Iffi  ORNWIM 


IfoMTIO 
51LGER 


BEIXflEY 

LIBRARY 

UNfV€«$ITY  OF 
CALIPOtNIA 


HORATIO  ALGER'S 


SINK  OR  SWIM; 


OR, 


HARRY   RAYMONDS   RESOLVE. 


BY 

HORATIO   ALGER,  JR., 

AUTHOR  OF  "RAGGED  DICK,"  "FAME  AND  FOKTUXK,"  " MARK,  THE  MATCH 

BOY,"  "ROUGH  AND  READY,"  "  BEN,  THE  LUGGAGE  BOY,"  "RUFUS 

AND  ROSE,"  "CAMPAIGN  SERIES,"  "LUCK  AND 

PLUCK   SERIES,"    ETC. 


THE  JOHN  C.  WINSTON  CO., 

PHILADELPHIA, 

CHICAGO,  TORONTO. 


LOAN  STACK 

FAMOUS  ALGER  BOOKS. 


RAGGED  DICK  SERIES.  By  HORATIO  ALGER,  JR.  6  vols.  12mo.  Cloth. 
RAGGED  DICK.  ROUGH  AND  READY. 

FAME  AND  FORTUNE.  BEN  THE  LUGGAGE  BOY. 

MARK  THE  MATCH  BOY.  RUFUS  AND  ROSE. 

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Cloth.    FIRST  SERIES. 

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FRANK'S  CAMPAIGN.  CHARLIE  CODMAN'S  CRUISE. 

PAUL  PRESCOTT'S  CHARGE. 

LUCK  AND  PLUCK  SERSES.  By  HORATIO  ALGER,  JR.   4  vols.  12mo 

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THE  YOUNG  CIP.CUS  RIDER.  HECTOR'S  INHERITANCE. 

Do  AND  DARE.  HELPING  HIMSELF. 

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Cloth. 

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Other  Volumes  in  Preparation. 


COPYRIGHT  BY  A.  K.  LORING,  1870. 


Jf  r      MOTHER, 


THIS     VOLUME 


AfF«CTIONATBLY   DBDICATEt. 


A3 


MA 


PREFACE. 


"'  SINK  OR  SWIM  "  is  the  second  volume  of 
the  "  LUCK  AND  PLUCK  SERIES/'  and,  like  its 
predecessor,  is  designed  to  illustrate  the  truth 
that  a  manly  spirit  is  better  than  the  gifts  of 
fortune. 

It  does  not  fall  to  the  lot  of  many  boys  to 
meet  with  such  adventures  or  to  encounter  such 
trials  as  befell  the  young  hero  of  this  story ;  but 
it  will  be  of  service  to  all,  to  adopt  Harry  Ray 
mond's  motto.  If  there  are  any  of  my  young 
readers  who  are  disposed  to  envy  Harry's  final 
good  fortune,  let  them  remember  that  the  best 
way  to  strive  for  success  is  to  deserve  it ;  and 

VII 


VIII  L'RZFAi  K. 

then,  if  it  does  not  come,  there  will  at  least  be 
a  consciousness  of  weli-doing,  which  in  itself  is 
a  rich  reward. 

Wvw  YORK.  November  I,  *9T& 


SINK    OR    SWIM; 

OR, 

HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE. 


CHAPTER    I. 

THE    VERNON    HIGH    SCHOOL. 
/ 

*4  SINX  or  swim,  live  or  die,  survive  or  perish^  I 
give  iny  hand  and  my  heart  to  this  vote." 

These  words  were  declaimed  in  a  clear,  ringing 
voice  from  the  platform  of  the  Vernon  High  School. 
The  speaker  was  a  boy  of  fifteen,  well-knit,  and  vig 
orous,  with  a  frank,  manly  expression,  and  a  prepos 
sessing  face.  His  dark  chestnut  hair  waved  slightly 
above  a  high,  intellectual  brow,  and  his  attitude,  aa 
he  faced  his  school-mates,  was  one  of  ease  and  uncon 
scious  grace.  His  eye  flashed  as  he  declaimed  with 
appropriate  emphasis  the  patriotic  extract  which 
nommeiK'e*  in  the  well-known  words  quoted  above. 

9 


10  SINK  OR  SWIM;  ewz, 

He  bad  learned  the  orator's  secret,  —  to  be  in  ear 
nest,  —  and  he  carried  his  audience  with  him.  When, 
at  the  conclusion  of  his  declamation,  he  bowed  and 
walked  to  his  desk,  the  boys  broke  into  spontaneous 
applause.  Though  this  was  contrary  to  the  rules  of 
the  school,  Reuben  Tower,  A.  M.,  the  principal,  ut 
tered  no  zeprimand.  He  had  himself  been  pleased 
with  *he  declamation,  and  sympathized  to  some 
extent  witii  the  scholars. 

"  Very  well  indeed,  Master  Raymond !  You  sp«ak 
as  if  you  felt  it,"  he  said, 

Harry  Raymond  looked  gratified  at  this  double 
commendation.  The  applause  of  his  school-mates 
pleased  him,  for  he  was  by  no  means  indifferent  to 
their  good  opinion,  which  he  tried  on  all  occasions 
to  deserve.  He  was  no  less  pleased  with  Mr. 
Tower's  praise,  for  he  had  a  high  respect  for  his 
ability,  and  that  praise  was  never  lightly  bestowed. 

I  have  spoken  of  Harry's  good  appearance.  I  am 
obliged  to  confess  that  his  dress  had  nothing  to  do 
with  this.  In  fact,  his  jacket  and  pants  were  of  very 
coarse  texture,  and  by  no  means  elegant  in  fit.  Be 
sides  this,  they  appeared,  though  neat,  to  have  seen 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE,  11 

considerable  service,  anci  there  was  a  patch  on  one 
knee.  —  very  small,  indeed,  but  still  a  patch.  In  fact, 
I  may  as  well  state  at.  the  outset,  that  Harry  was  the 
son  of  a  house-carpenter,  —  an  industrious  and  intelli 
gent  man,  but  still  of  limited  income,  and  obliged  to 
economize  strictly  in  order  to  lay  aside,  as  he  made 
it  a  point  to  do,  a  hundred  dollars  a  year,  as  a  pro 
vision  for  the  future. 

The  applause  which  followed  our  hero's  declama 
tion  was  almost  unanimous.  I  say  almost,  for  there 
were  two  boys  who  did  not  join  in  it.  One  of  these  was 
James  Turner,  a  boy  about  Harry's  age,  but  more 
slightly  made.  He  was  the  son  of  Squire  Turner, 
the  wealthiest  man  in  Vernon,  and  his  dress  afforded 
quite  a  contrast  to  the  ill-fitting  garments  of  our 
young  hero.  The  village  tailor's  skill  had  not  been 
deemed  sufficient,  but  James  had  accompanied  his 
father  to  New  York,  where  his  measure  had  been  left 
with  a  Broadway  tailor,  who  had  made  up  the  suit 
and  sent  it  to  Vernon  by  express.  The  cloth  was 
very  fine,  and  there  was  a  style  and  neatness  of  fit 
about  the  clothes  of  which  James  felt  very  proud. 
He  regarded  his  companions  with  a  supercilious  air, 


12  siifx  OK  SWIM;  on, 

as  if  convinced  of  his  own  immeasurable  superiority, 
in  dress  at  least. 

James  Turner  did  not  participate  in  the  Applause 
called  forth  03-  Harry  Raymond's  declamation.  On 
the  contrary,  he  sat  with  an  unpleasant  sneer  on  his 
lips,  and  cast  a  glance  of  scorn  at  the  patch,  which 
his  quick  eye  had  detected  in  our  hero's  pants. 

There  was  another  boy,  sitting  next  to  James,  who 
also  refrained  from  joining  in  the  applause.  This 
was  Tom  Barton,  a  friend  and  hanger-on  of  James 
Turner,  who,  by  persistent  flattery,  earned  the  privi 
lege  of  being  treated  with  half-contemptuous  familiar 
ity  and  condescension  by  the  young  aristocrat.  He 
knew  that  James  did  not  like  Harry  Raymond,  and 
the  sneer  which  he  saw  on  the  lips  of  his  patron  gave 
him  the  cue.  He  attempted  to  imitate  it,  and  gaze 
scornfully  at  the  young  orator  in  his  momentary 
triumph. 

"4  James  Turner !  "  called  out  the  principal. 

James  Turner  rose  from  his  seat,  and  walked  to  the 
platform,  which  he  ascended,  greeting  the  auuience 
with  a  stit*'  and  conseouential  bow.  and  an  air  whict 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVK.  13 

*il£ht  b?  interpreted  to  mean,  u  Boys,  you  will  now 
aave  the  privilege  of  hearing  m?  speak." 

James  had  selected  a  good  piece.  —  Patrick 
Henry's  well-known  appeal  to  arms,  familiar  to  every 
school-boy,  commencing,  "  I  have  but  one  lamp  by 
which  my  feet  are  guided,  and  that  is  the  lamp  of 
experience/' 

It  is  a  fine  piece  of  oratory,  lofty  in  tone  and  senti 
ment,  and  should  be  spoken  with  dignified  earnest 
ness.  James  Yurner's  voice,  which  was  shrill,  was 
scarcely  calculated  to  do  justice  to  it.  Still  it  would 
lot  have  called  out  any  demonstration  from  the 
young  auditory,  but  for  one  or  two  peculiar  ideas  on 
the  part  of  James,  as  to  the  proper  way  of  speaking 
it.  When  he  came  to  the  clause,  *k  We  have  pros 
trated  ourselves  before  the  throne,"  he  suited  the 
action  to  the  word,  and  sank  upon  his  knees.  But, 
afraid  of  soiling  his  pantaloons,  he  first  spread  out 
his  silk  handkerchief  on  the  platform,  and  this 
spoiled  whatever  effect  the  action  might  otherwise 
have  had.  There  was  a  general  tittei,  which  the 
young  aristocrat  saw  with  anger.  At  the  end  of  the 


14  s'AY/r  OR  zwinr,   UK* 

sentence,  he  rose  frrun  his  knees,  and,  with  a  general 
scowl  at  the  boys,  kept  on  with  his  declamation. 

But  a  more  serioas  contretemps  awaited  him.  A 
little  further  on,  the  orator  says,  k4  We  have  been 
spurned,  with  contempt,  from  the  foot  of  the  throne." 
Here  again,  James,  with  a  striking  lack  of  judgment, 
thought  it  would  heighten  the  etFect  to  suit  the  action 
to  the  word.  Acccordingly,  he  prepared  to  kick  out 
with  his  right  foot.  Unfortunately,  he  was  so 
provoked  with  his  school-mates,  for  their  lack  of 
appreciation  of  the  other  point  he  had  made,  that  he 
executed  the  manoeuvre,  if  it  may  properly  be  so 
called,  with  a  spiteful  emphasis  which  was  too  much 
for  his  equilibrium.  He  lost  his  balance,  and  fell 
forward  in  a  ludicrous  manner,  and  rolled  over  on  the 
floor  of  the  school-room. 

It  could  not  be  expected  that  fifty  school-boys  could 
restrain  their  merriment  under  such  trying  circum 
stances.  There  was  a  wild  burst  of  laughter,  in 
which,  after  an  ineffectual  attempt  to  resist  the 
infection,  Mr.  Tower  himself  was  compelled  to  join. 
Boys  laugned  till  the  tears  came  into  their  eyes,  and 
the  merriment  was  only  increased  when  James 


* 

HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVR.  15 

Turner  rose  to  his  feet,  and  with  an  air  of  offended 
majesty  marched  indignantly  to  his  seat,  darting  a 
look  of  withering  scorn,  as  he  meant  it  to  be,  at  his 
youthful  audience. 

The  laughter  recommenced,  and  became  almost 
hysteric.  The  principal,  however,  quickly  recovered 
himself,  and  said  :  — 

"  Boys,  that  will  do.  Turner,  you  must  excuse  the 
boys  for  a  little  good-natured  merriment  at  your 
expense.  I  think  your  conception  of  the  gestures 
proper  to  use  with  your  piece  is  not  quite  correct. 
However,  that  is  a  point  on  which  the  most  experi 
enced  speakers  are  apt  to  make  mistakes ;  not  only 
boys,  but  men.  Your  intention  was  good,  though 
the  effect  was  injured  by  circumstances." 

These  remarks  ought  to  have  appeased  the  offended 
orator,  but  he  evidently  did  not  mean  to  be  appeased 
so  readily.  His  feeling  of  mortification  was  swal 
lowed  up  in  a  greater  feeling  of  anger  and  irritation 
at  the  presumption  of  his  school-mates,  in  daring  to 
laugh  at  him,  the  son  of  the  richest  man  in  Vernon. 
He  felt  that  he  was  entitled,  rather,  to  be  treated  with 
respect  and  deference.  So  he  sat  sullenly  through 


tC  sor*  OR  SWIM;  o/<, 

the  remainder  of  the  speaking,  with  an  ill-tempered 
scowl  upon  his  features. 

When  the  speaking  was  over,  Air.  Tower  rose  and 
said :  - 

"  Boys,  you  are  aware  that  at  the  commencement 
of  the  term  I  offered  a  prize  to  the  boy  who,  in  your 
own  judgment,  should  be  pronounced  to  have  suc 
ceeded  best  in  declamation,  taking  into  consideration 
the  whole  term.  As  this  is  the  last  time  we  shall 
declaim  before  vacation,  I  will  call  for  the  vote  now. 
I  shall  distribute  small  slips  of  paper  among  you,  and 
I  will  ask  each  boy  to  inscribe  upon  his  slip  the  name 
of  that  one  who,  in  his  opinion,  deserves  the  prize. 
We  will  afterwards  count  the  votes." 

Slips  of  paper  were  accordingly  distributed,  and 
the  boys  were  soon  busy  in  recording  their  votes. 

"  Sheffield,  you  may  collect  the  votes,"  said  Mr. 
Tower. 

The  boy  referred  to  passed  among  the  desks  with 
his  hat,  and  the  slips  of  paper  were  deposited  therein. 
These  were  handed  to  the  teacher,  who  forthwith 
proceeded  to  count  them. 

The  count  over,  he  rapped  on  his  desk- 


&ARRT   RAYMOND'S    RESOLVE.  I  7 

"Boys,"  he  said,  "I  will  announce  the  vote. 
Votes  cast,  fifty.  Of  those  Walter  Sheffield  has  one  ; 
James  Turner,  two ;  and  the  remainder,  forty-seven 
in  number,  are  for  Harry  Raymond,  to  whom  I  have 
great  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize,  of  which  he  has 
been  pronounced  worthy  by  the  nearly  unanimous 
vote  of  his  school-mates.  Raymond,  you  will  come 
forward." 

Harry  Raymond  advanced  towards  the  teacher's 
desk,  amid  the  loud  applause  of  his  companions. 

Mr.  Tower  placed  in  his  hands  a  handsomely  bound 
volume,  consisting  of  selections  from  the  best  efforts 
of  orators,  ancient  and  modern,  saying :  — 

"  I  have  great  pleasure  in  giving  you  this  volume, 
Raymond,  for  my  own  judgment  approves  the  selection 
of  your  school-fellows.  I  trust  you  will  be  able  to 
express  in  your  life,  as  you  have  so  appropriately 
done  upon  the  platform,  the  lofty  and  elevated  sen 
timents  of  our  best  orators." 

There  was  a  flush  of  gratification  upon  our  hero  s 
cheek,  as  he  received  the  book  with  a  respectful  bow, 
and  returned  to  his  seat  amid  the  renewed  applause 
of  his  fellow-pupils. 


5/Arjr  OR   SWIM;    OJt, 


CHAPTER    II. 

SOUR    GRAPES. 

HARRY  RAYMOND  lived  in  a  small  house,  just  off 
the  main  street,  fronting  on  a  narrow  road  or  lane, 
The  building  lot,  consisting  of  an  acre  of  land,  his 
father  had  bought  three  years  before  for  one  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars.  After  purchasing  and  paying  for 
it  cash  down,  he  found  that  he  had  but  one  hundred 
dollars  left  towards  the  house  which  he  wanted  to 
build.  Under  these  circumstances  he  went  to  Squire 
Turner,  who  was  the  moneyed  man  of  the  village, 
and  asked  for  a  loan.  Knowing  that  his  money 
would  be  safe,  the  squire  agreed  to  furnish  him  what 
money  he  might  need  towards  the  house,  taking  a 
mortgage  upon  it  when  it  was  completed. 

Mr.  Raymond,  therefore,  at  once  commenced 
building.  His  house  coet  a  thousand  dollars,  of 
which  Squire  Turner  furnished  him  seven  hundred, 
the  balance  being  made  up  of  his  own  labor  and  cash 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  19 

in  hand.  So,  when  all  was  done,  he  regarded  himself 
as  worth  a  property  of  twelve  hundred  dollars,  sub 
ject  to  a  mortgage  of  seven  hundred.  During  the 
three  years  that  had  since  elapsed  he  had  managed, 
besides  paying  interest,  to  pay  up  three  hundred  dol 
lars  of  the  mortgage,  leaving  only  four  hundred  due. 
This  had  not  been  accomplished  without  some 
economy ;  but  his  wife  and  Harry  had  cheerfully  ac 
quiesced  in  this,  being  anxious  for  the  time  to  come 
when  they  might  be  clear  owners  of  the  little  house. 

The  house  contained  six  rooms,  and  stood  about 
fifty  feet  back  from  the  street.  The  land  in  the  rear 
made  an  excellent  garden,  supplying  them  with  all 
the  vegetables  of  which  they  had  need. 

Besides  Harry,  there  was  his  sister  Katy,  a  little 
girl  of  ten,  swe<2t  and  winning  in  her  ways,  to  whom 
he  was  warmly  attached. 

Mr.  Raymond  had  kept  Harry  steadily  at.  school, 
feeling  that  a  good  education  would  be  of  far  more 
value  to  him  in  after  life  than  the  small  amount  he 
might  earn  if  kept  at  work.  Harry  had  justified  this 
determination,  having  acquitted  himself  on  all  occa 
sions  most  creditablv  in  all  the  studies  which  he 


SINK  OR  SWIM;  on, 

pin  sued.  Out  of  school  he  found  time  to  work  in  the 
garden,  and  assist  in  various  ways,  by  sawing  and 
splitting  what  wood  was  required  for  family  use,  so 
that  his  father,  on  returning  from  his  day's  labor  was 
not  under  the  necessity  of  fatiguing  himself  by  extra 
work. 

We  will  now  return  to  the  Vernon  High  School. 

When  school  was  dismissed,  Harry  Raymond  was 
surrounded  by  his  friends,  eager  to  congratulate  him 
on  his  success. 

u  I  congratulate  you,  Harry,"  said  Walter  Sheffield, 
good-naturedly,  "  which  is  doing  the  handsome  thing, 
considering  that  I  was  your  rival.  You  only  had 
forty-six  more  votes  than  I.  That's  what  I  call  a 
close  shave." 

4i  You  voted  for  yourself,  didn't  you,  Sheffield?" 
said  Will  Pomeroy. 

"  I'm  not  going  to  expose  myself,  if  I  did,"  said 
Walter. 

44  Shouldn't  wonder  if  Turner  voted  for  himself," 
said  one  of  the  boys,  in  a  low  voice. 

"  But  he  had  two  votes." 

"  Oh,  Tom  Barton  cast  the  other  vote,  of  course,* 


BARRY  RAYMOND  S    RESOLVE. 

said  Will  Ponieroy,  rather  contemptuously.  ;*  He 
fawns  upon  Turner  just  because  he's  rich.  I  -wish 
him  joy  of  his  friend." 

"  Say,  Turner,  did  you  vole  for  yourself?  "  called 
out  one  of  the  boys. 

"  None  of  your  business ! "  said  James  Turner, 
sharply. 

He  stood  a  little  on  one  side  with  his  crony,  Tom 
Barton,  surveying  the  scene  with  an  ill-tempered 

scowl.     It  was  very  disagreeable  to  him  to  see  Harry 

i 

Raymond's  triumph.  In  fact,  he  hated  our  hero,  for 
no  good  reason  except  that  Harry  was  his  acknowl 
edged  superior  in  acquirements,  always  standing 
higher  in  his  classes,  and  received  from  his  school 
mates  a  degree  of  respect  and  deference  which 
James  Turner  with  all  his  money  could  not  buy. 

"•  Why  don't  you  come  and  congratulate  Raymond 
on  his  prize  ?  " 

"  I'd  rather  congratulate  him  on  his  pantaloons," 
said  James,  with  a  sneer. 

»k  What's  the  matter  with  them  ?  "  demanded  Will 
Pomeroy,  supposing  at  first  that  Harry  might  have 
soiled  them  in  sonic  way. 


22  SINK  OR  SWIM;  on, 

"  Patches  seem  to  be  in  fashion,"  said  James,  with 
another  sneer. 

Of  course  the  attention  of  all  the  boys  was  attracted 
to  Harry's  knee,  and  the  patch,  which  had  hitherto 
escaped  observation,  was  discovered. 

Harry  Raymond's  cheek  flushed,  for  he  saw  that 
an  insult  was  intended,  but  he  did  not  at  once 
speak. 

"  For  shame,  Turner  !  "  said  Will  Pomeroy,  indig 
nantly,  and  it  was  evident  that  the  other  boys  sym 
pathized  with  him  in  his  feeling. 

"  What  should  I  be  ashamed  of?  "  retorted  Turner. 

u  For  your  meanness  in  twitting  Harry  with  the 
patch." 

"  I  didn't ;  I  only  mentioned  it." 

"  You  are  envious  because  he  got  the  prize." 

"What  do  I  care  for  the  trumpery  prize?  It 
didn't  cost  more  than  a  dollar  and  a  half.  My  father 
will  buy  me  a  dozen  such  books,  if  I  want  them." 

"  Perhaps  he  will ;  but  for  all  that  you'd  have 
taken  it  quick  enough  if  you  could  have  got  it  It 
isn't  the  value  of  the  book,  it's  what  it  means.** 

"  What  does  it  mean  ?  " 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  23 

•4  That  Harry  Raymond  is  the  best  speaker  in  the 
Vemon  High  School." 

fct  Boys,"  said  Harry,  quietly,  "  don't  trouble  your 
selves  to  defend  me.  I  don't  care  what  James  Tur 
ner  says.  Perhaps  the  book  didn't  cost  more  than  a 
dollar  and  a  half,  but  it  was  given  me  by  your  votes, 
and  that  makes  it  worth  more  to  me  than  if  it  cost 
a  hundred  dollars.  I  haven't  had  a  chance  to  say  it 
before,  but  I  am  grateful  to  you  for  your  kindness  in 
awarding  it  to  me,  and  I  shall  always  treasure  it  for 
that  reason." 

"'  Three  cheers  for  Harry  Raymond ! "  called  out 
Walter  Sheffield,  waving  his  arm,  and  giving  the 
signal. 

The  three  cheers  were  given  with  a  will,  and  Harry 
looked  gratified  at  this  proof  of  the  regard  in  which 
he  was  held. 

•*  Now  three  groans  for  James  Turner ! "  said 
another. 

"*  No,  boys,"  said  Harry,  promptly ;  "  don't  do 
that." 

"  But  he  insulted  you." 

"  I  suppose  you  mean  about  the  patch.     But  never 


24  SIXK  OR  SWIM;  OR. 

mind  about  that.  You  all  know  that  my  father  is  a 
poor  man,  and  can't  aflbrd  to  buy  me  expensive 
clothes.  If  I  get  my  clothes  torn,  I  can't  afford  to 
throw  them  aside.  I  don't  like  patches  any  better 
than  anybody,  but  till  I  get  richer  I  shall  wear 
them." 

Harry  spoke  so  manfully,  that  the  boys  heartily 
sympathized  with  him.  It  might  have  been  supposed 
that  James  Tumei  would  have  been  convinced  of  his 
meanness,  and  ashamtd  of  it :  but  he  was  essentially 
a  mean  boy,  and  it  may  be  added  that  a  part  of  his 
meanness  came  to  him  from  his  father,  who,  though  a 
rich  man,  was  sordid  and  covetous,  and  never  known 
to  do  a  generous  action.  So  James  now  could  not 
refrain  from  a  parting  sneer. 

u  If  Raymond  wears  patches  because  he  is  poor," 
he  said,  "  I'll  give  him  a  pair  of  pants  that  I've  got 
through  wearing,  any  time  when  he'll  come  up  to  the 
house." 

"  You  needn't  trouble  yourself,"  said  Harry,  angry 
at  the  insult.  "  When  I  want  your  cast-off  clothes 
111  let  you  know.  I'll  go  in  rags  first." 

u  Just   as    you    choose,"    said    James,    sneering- 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  25 

"  There's  no  accounting  for  tastes.  Come  along, 
Barton." 

The  two  boys  walked  away,  not  much  regretted  by 
those  they  left  behind.  If  they  had  heard  the  re 
marks  made  about  them  after  their  departure,  neither 
would  have  felt  particularly  complimented. 

"  The  beggarly  upstart !  "  said  James  to  his  com 
panion.  "  He  puts  on  airs  enough  for  a  pauper." 

"  So  he  does,"  said  Barton.  "  He  can't  speak  half 
as  well  as  you.  But  Mr.  Tower's  prejudiced." 

"  I  don't  care  for  his  miserable  prizes,"  said  James. 
44  They're  not  worth  thinking  of." 

It  was  only  another  illustration  of  the  well-known 
fable  of  the  fox  and  the  grapes. 


26  MINI  on  SWIM;  cut, 


CHAPTER    III. 

A   SUDDEN   BLOW. 

HAKRT  RAYMOND,  after  receiving  the  congratula 
tions  of  his  school-mates,  took  his  way  homeward. 
He  was  not  obliged  to  travel  by  the  road,  as  there 
was  a  short  cut  across  the  field. 

At  the  end  of  ten  minutes  he  threw  open  the  door, 
and  went  into  the  house.  His  mother  was  ironing, 
and  Katy  sat  near  by,  reading  a  book. 

"  See  what  I've  got,  mother,"  said  Harry,  holding 
up  his  prize. 

"What  is  it,  Harry?" 

"  It's  the  prize  for  declamation.  The  boys  took  a 
vote,  and  it  was  awarded  to  me  by  forty-seven  votes 
out  of  fifty." 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  it,"  said  Mrs.  Raymond, 
and  her  face  wore  a  proud  look,  as  she  glanced  at  the 
bright  and  animated  face  of  her  son. 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE,  *7 

*•  WV»  were  the  three  boys  that  didn't  vot.  f<» 
^.*u '' "  asked  Katy. 

s'  I  was  one  of  them,"  said  Harry,  smiling. 

-•  Who  did  you  vote  for?" 

«  For  Walter  Sheffield." 

•'  Is  he  a  good  speaker?" 

<<•  Yes/' 

"  But  he  isn't  as  good  as  you  are." 

'•'  That  isn't  for  me  to  say." 

"Who  got  the  other  two  votes?  " 

"  James  Turner." 

"  He's  an  awful  disagreeable  boy,"  said  Katy>. 
•  He  pu^«5  on  all  sorts  of  airs  just  because  his  father 
it  ricn.  I  wish  father  was  as  rich  as  Squire  Turner." 
4  Perhaps  you'd  like  to  have  him  for  a  father." 

"No,  I  shouldn't,"  said  Katy,  quickly.  "He's 
juiit  «.s  bad  for  a  man,  as  James  is  for  a  boy." 

"ro,  you  see,  money  isn't  everything,"  said  her 
mother. 

There  was  a  deeper  meaning  in  these  words  than 
her  children  knew.  There  was  one  passage  in  her 
early  life,  known  only  to  herself  and  her  husband, 
vrith  which  the  rich  Squire  Turner  was  connected. 


28  siNf  OR  SWIM;  OJR, 

As  a  girl,  Mrs.  Raymond  had  been  very  handsome, 
and  even  now,  at  the  age  of  thirty-six,  she  retained 
much  of  her  good  looks.  It  was  not  generally 
known  that  Squire  Turner  had  been  an  aspirant  for 
her  hand.  But  though  he  was  even  then  rich,  and 
could  have  given  her  an  attractive  home  —  so  far  as 
money  can  make  a  home  attractive  —  she  quietly  re 
jected  his  suit,  and  accepted  Mr.  Raymond,  a  jour 
neyman  carpenter,  with  less  than  a  hundred  dollars. 

This  rejection  Squire  Turner  never  forgot  nor  for 
gave.  He  was  not  a  forgiving  man,  and  his  resent 
ment  was  bitter,  though  he  did  not  choose  to  show  it 
publicly.  Indeed,  he  treated  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ray 
mond,  to  all  appearance,  as  though  nothing  had  hap 
pened  ;  but  none  the  less  he  nursed  his  anger,  and 
waited  patiently  for  an  opportunity  to  repay,  by 
some  grievous  injury,  the  wrong  which  he  fancied  he 
had  suffered.  About  the  same  time  with  Mr.  Ray 
mond,  Squire  Turner  also  married  a  Miss  Ellis,  a 
sharp-tempered  spinster  from  a  neighboring  town, 
whose  only  redeeming  point  was  the  possession  of 
ten  thousand  dollars  in  her  own  right.  Her  husband 
cared  nothing  for  her,  but  only  for  her  money,  and 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S 

the  marriage  was  far  from  being  a  happy  cme. 
Domestic  dissension,  and  almost  continual  wrang 
ling,  were  what  James  had  witnessed  from  his  baby 
hood  up  to  the  time  of  his  mother's  death,  a  year 
previous  ;  and  perhaps  it  is  not  surprising  that  the 
sou  of  such  parents  should  have  been  unpopular,  and 
possessed  of  disagreeable  traits. 

Yet  Mr.  Raymond  had  applied  to  Squire  Turner 
for  money  to  assist  him  in  building  his  house.  The 
squire  had  two  objects  in  granting  this  request. 
First,  the  security  was  ample,  ami  the  investment  a 
good  one  ;  and,  secondly,  a  debtor  is  always  to  some 
extent  in  the  power  of  his  creditor.  Squire  Turner 
was  by  no  means  averse  to  establishing  this  power 
over  the  husband  of  the  woman  who  had  rejected  his 
suit.  The  time  might  come  when  he  could  make  a 
use  of  it. 

"What  piece  did  you  speak  to-day,  Harry?" 
asked  his  mother. 

l*  The  supposed  speech  of  John  Adams.  You 
remember  how  it  begins :  4  Sink  or  swim,  live  or  die, 
survive  or  perish,  I  give  my  hand  and  my  heart  to 
this  vote."' 


80  SINK  OR  SWIM;  o*, 

"  Yes,  I  remember  it." 

"I have  been  thinking,  mother,"  continued  Harry 
"  that  I  shall  take  my  motto  from  it." 

44  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

44  I  mean  this  :  Sink  or  swim,  I  am  going  to  do 
my  duty,  and  try  to  succeed  in  life.  I  am  not  going 
to  be  frightened  by  obstacles,  but  am  going  to  push 
on  as  well  as  I  can." 

"It's  a  good  motto,  Harry.  I  hope  you'll  have 
strength  to  adhere  to  it." 

"  I  think  I'll  go  out  and  split  a  little  wood,  now, 
mother." 

44 1  wish  you  would.  I  always  burn  a  good  deal  on 
ironing  days." 

44 1  think  I'll  split  up  enough  to  last  two  or  three 
days.  I  have  more  time  Wednesdays  than  Mon 
days." 

On  Wednesday  the  only  afternoon  exercise  was 
declamation,  so  that,  instead  of  closing  at  four,  the 
school  was  usually  out,  as  to-day,  at  half-past  two. 
At  half-past  five  Harry  re-entered  the  house. 

"Isn't  supper  ready,  mother?"  he  asked.  44  I'm 
as  hungry  as  a  bear." 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE..  31 

44  Fes,  Harry,  it  is  ready ;  but  your  father  has  no* 
got  home  yet.  I  have  been  waiting  for  him/' 

' :  Where  is  he  at  work  ?  " 

'k  On  Doctor  Lamson's  house,  just  across  the  rail 
road.  The  doctor  is  in  a  hurry  to  get  it  finished  as 
soon  as  possible,  and  perhaps  the  carpenters  are 
working  extra  hours." 

u  Did  father  say  anything  about  it  before  he  went 
away  this  morning? " 

"  No,  he  didn't  mention  any  intention  of  stopping. 
But  he  stopped  on  Monday  a  little  over  time,  and 
perhaps  he  has  done  so  to-night." 

"  Well,  I  hope  he'll  return  soon,  for  I  feel  uncom 
monly  hungry." 

"'  If  your  father  isn't  here  by  she,  we'll  Bit  down. 
I  can  keep  the  tea  hot  for  him." 

Not  a  shadow  of  apprehension  was  in  Mrs.  Ray 
mond's  mind  as  she  spoke,  but  already  a  heavy 
calamity  had  fallen  upon  her,  of  which  she  was 
unconscious. 

Six  o'clock  came,  and  Mr.  Raymond  had  not  re 
turned. 

"  I  think  you  had  better  sit  down  to  tea,  children," 


32  SIFK  OR  SWIM;  OA, 

said  their  mother.  "  I.  ain  not  verv  hungry,  and  I 
will  wait  for  your  father." 

They  sat  down  accordingly,  and  Harry  made  a 
hearty  supper,  quite  justifying  the  report  he  had 
given  of  his  appetite. 

Another  hour  passed  away. 

It  was  now  seven  o'clock,  and  Mr.  Raymond  was 
still  absent. 

"  I  wonder  your  father  does  not  come,"  said  Mrs. 
Raymond,  with  a  little  vague  restlessness,  which  had 
not  yet  been  converted  into  anxiety.  "  He  has  not 
often  been  so  late  as  this,  without  telling  me  before 
hand  that  he  meant  to  stay  away." 

44 1  think  I  will  go  out  and  meet  him,"  said  Harry. 

To  this  Mrs.  Raymond  made  no  objection,  feeling, 
or  the  whole,  rather  relieved  by  the  proposal  of  her 
son. 

She  set  the  tea  once  more  on  the  stove,  and  the 
bread  and  pie  were  also  placed  on  the  hearth  of  the 
stove  to  keep  warm. 

44  Your  father  must  be  hungry,"  she  said  to  Katy, 
44  as  it  is  so  late." 

Harry  went  out  of  the  gate,  and  walked  slowly  up 


SLARRT    RAYMOND  b    RESOLVE.  3ti 

me  road  in  the  direction  of  his  lather's  probable 
return.  He  strained  his  eyes  to  see  through  the 
gathering  twilight,  but  could  see  nothing  of  his 
father.  Rather  surprised  at  this,  he  kept  on,  until 
he  happened  to  meet  in  the  street  Hiram  Payson, 
who  lie  knew  had  also  been  employed  on  Doctor 
Lamson's  house. 

u  Good-evening,  Mr.  Payson,"  he  said, 

"  Good-evening,   Harry;    where    are    you   going? 
To  the  store?" 

"  No ;  I  thought  I   would  come  out  and  see  if  I 
could  meet  my  father." 

"Meet  your  father?     Why,  where  has  begone?" 

"  He  hasn't  got  home  from  work  yet.     Did  you 
start  before  him?" 

"  No ;  he  started  before  me." 

u  He  did  1 "  exclaimed  Harry,  in  surprise.     "  What 
time  was  that  ?  " 

u  About  five  o'clock.     I  know  it  was  not  later  thar 
that." 

"  Where  can  he  be?" 

"  Haven't  you  seen  anything  of  him?" 
3 


34  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR. 

"  No.  Did  he  say  anything  about  going  anywhere 
before  he  returned  home  ?  " 

"  No." 

"Where  can  he  be?"  asked  Harry,  again;  and 
this  time  there  was  anxiety  in  his  tone. 

"  I'll  tell  you  what,  Harry,"  said  Hiram  Payson, 
"  if  you  are  going  to  look  for  him,  I'll  join  you." 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Payson.     I  wish  you  would." 

The  two  pushed  on  in  the  direction  of  Doctor 
Lamson's  new  house.  It  was  probably  about  a  mile 
distant  in  all,  the  railroad  being  three-quarters  of  the 
way.  They  reached  the  railroad,  and,  as  if  by 
mutual  consent,  paused  and  looked  about  them. 

"  Your  father  sometimes  walks  on  the  railroad  a 
little  distance,  as  far  as  Carter's  pasture.  Perhaps 
we  had  better  take  that  way." 

Harry  assented.  There  was  a  scared  look  on  his 
face,  and  a  fear  which  he  did  not  dare  to  define  to 
himself. 

It  was  realized  all  too  soon.  About  fifty  rods  dis 
tant,  they  came  upon  the  mangled  remains  of  his 
father,  lying  stretched  across  the  track.  His  hearing 
bad  been  affected  by  a  fever,  which  he  had  thre* 


HARRT  AAYMONri'S    RESOLVE.  $5 

years  previous.  It  was  evident,  that  as  he  was  walk 
ing  on  the  track,  the  train  sweeping  round  a  curve 
had  come  upon  him  unawares,  and  his  life  was  the 
forfeit.  Harry  uttered  one  shriek  of  horror,  and 
sank  down  beside  his  father's  body,  now  cold  in 
death. 


OR  SWJM;  o«. 


CHAPTER     IV, 

AFTER    THE    FUNERAL. 

THE  grief  of  Mrs.  Raymond  and  her  two  chil 
dren,  for  the  death  of  the  husband  and  father,  was 
very  sharp  and  poignant.  Had  he  died  at  home  of 
some  lingering  illness,  their  minds  would  have  been 
prepared  in  some  measure  for  the  stroke.  But,  cut 
off  as  he  was  in  an  instant,  the  blow  fell  upon  them 
very  heavily. 

On  the  third  day  after  the  body  was  found,  the 
funeral  took  place.  Harry  attended  as  chief  mourner, 
for  his  mother  was  compelled  to  remain  at  home  on  ac 
count  of  illness.  But  when  the  funeral  was  over  other 
cares  forced  themselves  upon  their  attention.  It  is 
only  the  rich  who  can  afford  to  give  themselves  up 
unreservedly  to  the  luxury  of  grief.  The  poor  must 
rouse  themselves  to  battle  for  their  bread.  In  Mr. 
Raymond's  death  his  family  had  not  only  lost  an 
affectionate  husband  and  father,  but  the  one  upon 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE,  3i 

whom  they  had  leaned  for  support.  How  they  were 
to  live  in  future  was  a  question  which  demanded 
their  earliest  consideration. 

They  were  gathered  in  the  little  sitting-room  one 
evening  about  a  week  after  Mr.  Raymond's  death. 
Mrs.  Raymond  was  looking  sad  and  pale,  while 
Harry's  face  was  sober  and  earnest.  He  already 
began  to  realize  that  his  father's  cares  and  responsi 
bilities  had  fallen  on  his  young  shoulders,  and  that 
it  was  his  duty  to  take  that  father's  place  as  well  as 
he  should  be  able. 

"  It  is  time,  mother,"  he  said,  "  that  we  began  to 
talk  about  our  future  plans." 

44 1  am  sure  I  don't  know  what  we  shall  do,"  said 
his  mother,  sighing,  for  to  her  the  future  looked 
formidable. 

But  Harry  was  young,  healthy,  and  sanguine,  and 
his  spirits  were  lighter. 

"Whatever  we  do,  mother,"  he  said,  "we  won't 
despond.  There  are  a  great  many  ways  of  getting 
a  living,  and  I  know  that  we  shall  get  along  some 
how." 

4fc  I  don't  know,"  said  Mrs.  Raymond,  dubiously. 


<J8  SINK  OR  SWIM;  o/?, 

"  Do  you  remember  that  piece  I  spoke  the  other 
lay?" 

"The  one  you  got  the  prize  for,  Harry?"  said  his 
mister. 

"  It  wasn't  for  that  only,  but  for  speaking  the 
whole  term.  The  piece  began  with  '  Sink  or  Swim  ; ' 
and  I  told  you  then  that  I  meant  to  take  that  for 
my  motto." 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Harry?  M 

"  I  mean  this,  mother,"  said  Harry,  with  energy, 
44  that,  sink  or  swim,  I  am  going  to  do  my  best ;  and 
If  I  do  that,  I  think  it'll  be  swim  and  not  sink." 

44  But  you  are  so  young,  Harry,"  said  his  mother, 
not  very  hopefully. 

"  I  am  fifteen,"  said  Harry,  drawing  himself  up. 
"  I  am  well  and  strong,  and  I  can  work." 

44 1  don't  know  what  you  can  find  to  do." 

44  Oh,  there  are  plenty  of  things,"  said  Harry,  cheer 
fully,  though  rather  vaguely  It  would,  perhaps ; 
have  puzzled  him  to  enumerate  the  plenty  of  things  ; 
but  he  was  hopeful  and  confident,  and  that  was  in  hia 
favor. 


BARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  39 

*'  Do  you  think  you  could  build  houses,  Harry?" 
asked  Katy. 

"  None  that  would  be  worth  living  in,"  he  said, 
smiling.  "  I  don't  mean  to  be  a  carpenter.  It 
would  take  too  long  to  learn,  and  the  pay  is  never 
very  large.  But  the  first  thing  to  do,  mother,  is  to 
see  how  we  stand." 

"There's  this  house.  That  is  all  we  have,  and 
Squire  Turner  holds  a  mortgage  on  that." 

"  The  mortgage  is  seven  hundred  dollars.  How 
much  has  been  paid  on  it  ?  " 

"  Three  hundred  dollars." 

"  Then  we  own  it  all  except  four  hundred  dollars. 
It  is  worth  fully  twelve  hundred  dollars,  so  that  we 
are  worth  at  least  eight  hundred  dollars." 

"  That  won't  last  very  long,"  said  Mrs.  Raymond. 

u  Not  if  we  spend  it ;  but  I  hope  we  shan't  have  to 
do  that.  Still  it  gives  us  something  to  fall  back 
upon,  in  case  I  don't  succeed  very  well  at  first. 
Then  there  is  the  furniture ;  that  must  be  worth  at 
least  two  hundred  dollars." 

"  It  cost  considerably  more." 

u  Never  mind,  we  will  call  it  two  hundred  dollars. 


40  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OK. 

You  see,"  he  added,  cheerfully,  "we  have  s;ot  up  to 
a  thousand  already.  Now,  mother,  have  you  got  any 
money  in  the  house  ?  " 

"  About  twenty-five  dollars." 

"k  That  is  not  much,  but  it  is  something.  I  suppose 
that  is  all." 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  so.** 

44  Well,  it  isn't  so  bad  as  it  might  be.  Think  of 
those  who  are  left  wholly  destitute,  with  starvation 
staring  them  in  the  face.  When  you  think  of  that, 
we  are  quite  rich  in  comparison." 

44 1  might  have  had  something  to  help  along,"  said 
Mrs.  Raymond,  *4  but  my  father  lost  what  little  prop 
erty  we  had  before  he  died,  and  left  nothing  at  all." 

"Wasn't  he  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812?" 
inquired  Harry. 

4k  Yes,  he  served  for  over  a  year.'* 

4t>  Didn't  he  get  any  pension,  or  anything  else  from 
government  ?  " 

44  No,  he  got  no  pension.     He  got  a  grunt  of  land 
-—eighty  acres,  I  believe  —  somewhere  out  in 
eonsin.w 

"  What  did  he  do  with  the  land? " 


RAYMOND" s  RESOLVE.  41 

iv  He  never  did  anything.  Land  was  only  a  dollar 
and  a  quarter  an  acre,  and  nobody  would  give  him 
that.  An  agent  offered  him  twenty-five  dollars  for 
his  grant,  but  he  would  not  take  it.  Then  he  put 
away  the  paper,  and  never  did  anything  more  about 
it." 

u  Have  you  got  the  paper  now,  mother  ? "  asked 
Hairy,  interested. 

"  Yes,  I  believe  so.  I  think  I  have  it  somewhere 
in  my  bureau.'* 

"  If  it  wouldn't  be  too  much  trouble  I  would  lik* 
to  see  it  Can't  I  find  it?" 

"  No,  I  will  go  for  it." 

Mrs.  Raymond  went  upstairs,  and  shortly  returned 
with  a  paper  yellow  with  age,  setting  forth  that 
Henry  Mann,  in  consideration  of  services  rendered 
to  the  government,  was  entitled  to  a  quarter  section 
of  land,  the  location  of  which  was  specified. 

"  A  quarter  section  1 "  said  Harry.  "  That's  a 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  —  more  than  you  thought." 

"Is  it?"  said  Mrs.  Raymond,  listlessly.  "I 
suppose  it  doesn't  make  much  difference  now  which 


42  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

it  is.  After  so  long  a  time  there  is  no  cLance  of  get 
ting  it,  and  I  suppose  it  wouldn't  be  worth  much." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  said  Hairy.  "  At  any 
rate  it's  worth  looking  into.  Shall  I  keep  the 
paper?" 

"  Yes,  if  you  wish." 

"  I  will  go  round  to-morrow,  and  see  Squire 
Turner,  and  perhaps  he  can  give  me  some  informa 
tion  about  it.  But  we  haven't  talked  about  our  plans 
yet." 

"  I  have  thought  of  nothing." 

"But  I  have.  I  will  tell  you  about  it,  and  see 
what  you  think.  First,  I  thought  of  hiring  some 
land,  and  turning  farmer ;  but  that's  hard  work,  and 
requires  more  knowledge  than  I  have  got.  Besides, 
[  don't  believe  I  could  earn  much." 

"No;  I  don't  think  you  could  earn  much  that 
*ay." 

"  Then  I  thought  I  might  go  to  the  city,  and  get  a 
small  stock  of  goods,  and  go  round  peddling.  Or, 
perhaps,  I  might  get  the  agency  for  some  popular 
article,  and  travel  about  with  it." 


HARiiY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  43 

•'I  arn  afraid  it  would  be  a  great  undertaking. 
Besides,  you  have  no  money  to  invest." 

kt  That's  true ;  but  I  could  raise  some.  Squire 
Turner  might  advance  me  one  hundred  dollars,  and 
increase  the  mortgage  to  that  amount.  A  hundred 
dollars,  or  even  less,  would  buy  all  the  goods  I 
should  want  at  one  time.  That  would  be  my  capital 
in  trade.  As  soon  as  I  made  money  enough,  I  would 
pay  it  back,  and  then  we  should  be  as  well  off  as  we 
are  now." 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  think,"  said  Mrs.  Raymond, 
sighing.  "I  never  had  any  head  for  business.  I 
always  left  those  things  to  your  father." 

u  But  you  will  consent  to  my  asking  such  a  loan?  " 

44  Yes  ;  if  you  really  think  it  will  do  any  good." 

44 1  do.  Remember  my  motto,  mother,  4  Sink  or 
swim  ! '  I've  made  up  my  mind  to  swim." 

Thus  ended  the  conference.  Harry  saw  that  it 
was  as  his  mother  said,  —  she  had  no  head  for  busi- 
tess.  He  must  form  his  own  plans,  and  carry  thei» 
lirough  without  assistance 


44  SINK  OR  SWIM; 


CHAPTER    V. 

SQUIRE    TCRNER. 

BEFORE  doing  anything  else,  Harry  determined  to 
consult  some  one  about  the  land  warrant.  It  might 
be  worth  nothing,  or  very  little  ;  but  in  their  present 
circumstances  they  could  not  afford  to  give  up  even  a 
little. 

As  he  had  suggested  in  his  conversation  with  his 
mother,  he  decided  to  call  on  Squire  Turner  and  ask 
his  advice.  He  did  not  particularly  like  the  squire, 
who  was  not  popular  in  the  neighborhood ;  but  still 
he  had  the  reputation  of  being  well  acquainted  with 
matters  of  business,  and,  though  not  a  regular  lawyer, 
was  accustomed  to  draw  up  deeds,  and  conveyances, 
and  wills,  and,  in  fact,  supplied  the  place  of  a  lawyer 
so  far  as  his  neighbors  were  concerned.  There  was 
no  one  in  the  village  so  likely  as  the  squire  to  advise 
him  correctly  about  the  land  warrant.  So  Harry  put 
on  his  cap  the  next  morning,  and,  with  the  document 


UARKY  RAYMOND'S  RKSOLTR*  45 

in  his  breast-pocket,  set  out  on  his  way  to  Squire 
Tumor's  residence. 

It  was  a  large,  square  dwelling-house,  setting  back 
some  distance  from  the  road.  There  were  two  gates, 
at  the  right  and  left  hand,  and  a  semicircular  drive 
way,  extending  from  one  to  the  other,  passed  the 
front  door. 

It  was  half-past  eight  o'clock,  and  James  Turner 
was  standing  on  the  front  steps  with  his  books  under 
flis  arm.  He  had  just  come  out,  and  was  about  to 
start  for  school.  James  surveyed  Harry's  approach 
with  some  curiosity. 

u  Halloo  !  "  said  he  ;  u  what  do  you  want?  " 

This  was  not  a  very  civil  or  cordial  greeting,  and 
Harry  did  not  feel  compelled  to  satisfy  his  curiosity. 

u  My  business  is  not  with  you,"  he  said ;  u  it  is 
with  your  father." 

"  I  suppose  you've  come  for  a  job,"  said  James, 
coarsely.  **  I  suppose  you'll  be  awful  poor." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  said  Harry,  coolly. 
44 1  guess  I  shall  be  able  to  make  a  living." 

"  Maybe  my  father'll  hire  you  to  saw  wood." 


46  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

"  Thank  you ;  but  that  isn't  the  business  I  am 
thinking  of  following." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  going  to  be  a  merchant," 
sneered  James. 

"  Very  likely  I  may  be  some  time." 

Harry  was  not  much  troubled  by  the  rudeness  of 
James ;  for  he  cared  nothing  for  him  or  his  good 
opinion.  James  was  a  little  nettled  to  find  that  his 
taunts  rebounded  so  harmlessly,  and  this  led  him  to 
one  parting  shot. 

Harry  had  ascended  the  front  steps,  and  was  about 
to  ring  the  bell,  when  James  said,  "  You  needn't 
ring.  You  can  go  round  to  the  back  door." 

"  Is  that  where  you  go  in  ?  "  asked  Harry. 

"  No." 

"  Then,  if  you  use  the  front  door,  I  shall,"  and 
Harry  rang  a  peal  a  little  louder  than  he  would 
have  otherwise  done. 

James  muttered  something  about  his  not  knowing 
his  place ;  but  before  the  door  was  opened  marched 
off  for  school. 

The  door  was  speedily  opened  by  a  servant, 

*  Is  Squire  Turner  in  ?  "  asked  Harry. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  A-ssozra?  47 

"  Yes,  he  is.     Won't  you  come  in?  " 

Harry  entered,  and  passed  into  a  room  on  the 
right,  which  tiie  squire  generally  used  as  a  sitting 
room.  It  was  provided  with  a  desk,  studded  with 
pigeon-holes,  most  of  which  were  filled  with  papers. 
Here  it  was  that  the  amateur  lawyer  received  busi 
ness  calls,  and  transacted  such  business  as  came  to 
his  hands. 

He  looked  round  as  Harry  entered. 

Squire  Turner,  whom  I  may  as  well  describe  here, 
was  a  tall  man,  with  iron-gray  hair,  and  a  slight 
stoop  in  the  shoulders.  His  face,  which  was  rather 
harsh,  began  to  show  wrinkles.  It  was  not,  on  the 
whole,  a  very  pleasing  or  encouraging  aspect ;  but 
Harry  Raymond,  who  was  used  to  the  squire's  looks, 
did  not  waste  much  thought  upon  this.  It  was  his 
nature  to  go  directly  to  the  point. 

"  Did  you  want  to  see  me?"  asked  the  squire,  ad? 
justing  his  spectacles,  and  looking  at  our  hero. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Harry. 

"  I'm  rather  busy  now.     Be  as  quick  as  you  can." 

"  My  father's  death,"  said  Harry,  his  lip  quivering 
a  little  as  he  said  it,  "  makes  it  necessary  for  me  to 


*fc  SINK  OP.  SWIM;  OA, 

form  «ome  plans  about  getting  along.  I  was  reckon 
ing  up  yesterday  how  much  we  had  to  start  with, 
when  my  mother  showed  me  a  paper  which  may  be 
worth  something.  Probably  you  will  know.  So  I 
have  brought  it  along  to  show  you." 

"  Where  is  it?"  asked  Squire  Turner. 

Harry  drew  it  out  from  his  pocket,  and  handed  it 
to  the  squire. 

"  I  see  it's  a  land  warrant  in  favor  of  your  grand 
father,"  he  said,  after  a  little  examination. 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Given  in  return  for  his  services  in  the  war  of 
1812." 

"  Yes,  sir.     Is  it  worth  anything  ?  " 

"  Didn't  he  ever  take  up  the  land?" 

"  No,  sir." 

"Why  not?" 

"  I  don't  know,  sir ;  except  that  Wisconsin  was  a 
good  ways  off,  and  I  believe  he  had  some  property  at 
that  time,  so  that  he  did  not  need  it.  Mother  says  he 
was  offered  twenty-five  dollars  by  an  agent,  but 
wouldn't  accept  it.  After  that,  he  appears  to  have 
put  it  away  in  his  drawer,  and  forgotten  it." 


HARRJ   RAYMOND'S   RESOLVE.  49 

"  Humph !  "  said  the  squire,  reflectively,  running 
his  eyes  over  the  document. 

44 Do  you  think  I  can  get  anything  for  it?"  asked 
Harry. 

i4 1  am  not  prepared  to  say,  positively,"  said  the 
squire,  slowly.  "  My  impression  is,  that,  after  this 
length  of  time,  it  would  be  impossible  to  get  any 
thing  for  it." 

44 1  was  afraid  that  might  be  the  case,"  said  Harry. 
*  Is  there  any  way  of  finding  out  about  it  ?  " 

44  If  you'll  leave  it  with  me,  I  will  take  steps  to 
ascertain,"  said  Squire  Turner. 

44  Thank  you,  sir.  If  we  get  anything  for  it,  we 
shall,  of  course,  be  willing  to  pay  you  for  your 
trouble." 

Most  men  would  at  once  have  assured  Harry  that  no 
payment  would  be  necessary ;  but  Squire  Turner  was 
never  known  to  refuse  a  fee,  —  he  was  too  fond  of 
money  for  that,  —  nor  was  it  his  intention  to  do  so 
now.  He  accordingly  answered,  "  Well,  I  will  see 
about  it.  It  may  take  some  time." 

44  There  was  something  else  I  wished  to  speak  to 

you  about,"  said  Harry. 
4 


50  SINK  OR  SWIM;  o/z, 

'•  Proceed." 

44  You  hold  a  mortgage  upon  our  place." 

"Well?" 

44  It  is  now  reduced  to  four  hundred  dollars  by  pay 
ments  made  by  my  father." 

44  Do  you  wish  to  pay  the  remainder  ?  " 

44  No,  sir ;  I  am  not  able  to.  What  I  want  is,  to 
get  another  hundred  dollars  from  you  on  the  same 
security,  making  it  five  hundred  dollars  instead  of 
four." 

44  What  do  you  want  with  the  money? " 

44 1  have  been  thinking  that  I  might  get  a  stock  of 
goods  in  the  city,  and  go  about  selling  them.  I  have 
got  to  do  something,  and  I  think  I  might  make 
money  that  way." 

44 1  couldn't  let  you  have  the  money,"  said  the 
squire. 

44  No,  sir,  I  suppose  not.  But  mother  is  willing,  a« 
she  will  tell  you  herself." 

44 1  don't  know  but  I  can  do  it,"  said  the  squire, 
after  a  little  pause.  44  Mind,  I  don't  give  any  advice 
as  to  the  plan  you  have  in  view.  You  may  make  H 


IIARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  51 

» 

pay,  arid  you  may  not.     Perhaps  it  would  be  better 

to  get  something  to  do  about  here." 

14  There  isn't  much  chance  in  Vernon,"  answered 
Harry  ;  "  and  there  are  plenty  to  do  what  little  work 
there  is." 

"Well,  that's  your  affair.  About  the  money,  I 
will  consider  the  matter,  and  if  you  will  come  round 
to-morrow,  I  will  let  you  know  what  I  have  <te 
tided." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

"  And  about  the  land  warrant,  I  will  write  out  to  t 
lawyer  I  know  in  Milwaukee,  and  ask  his  opinion. 
When  his  answer  comes,  I  will  let  you  know." 

44  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  Harry ;  and,  his  business 
being  at  an  end,  he  took  his  cap,  and  with  a  bow  left 
the  room. 

On  the  whole,  he  was  better  pleased  with  the 
result  of  the  interview  than  he  anticipated.  Squire 
Turner  had  not  been  very  cordial  or  sympathetic,  it 
is  true,  but  he  seemed  disposed  to  grant  the  request 
which  he  had  made ;  and,  though  Harry  did  not  \tf*e 
him,  he  had  a  very  good  opinion  of  his  busings 
abilities. 


52  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

"  If  we  can  only  get  a  hundred  dollars  or  so  for 
the  land  warrant,"  he  said  to  himself,  "  it  will  be  a 
great  help." 


BAJUIJ  RAYMOND' 8  RESOLVX. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HARRY    OBTAINS    A    PLACE. 

ON  the  way  back  from  Squire  Turner's,  Harry 
stepped  into  the  village  store,  as  he  had  one  or  two 
email  articles  to  purchase  for  his  mother.  This  store 
was  kept  by  Jonas  Porter,  a  man  over  fifty,  in  rather 
poor  health.  On  this  account  he  was  obliged  to  de 
pend  considerably  upon  two  young  men,  whom  he 
employed  as  assistants.  One  of  them,  John  Gay- 
lord,  was  twenty-five  years  of  age,  and  an  efficient 
salesman.  The  other,  Alfred  Harper,  was  about 
eighteen,  and  of  course  less  experienced  and  valua 
ble.  The  last  was  employed  partly  in  driving  the 
store  wagon  with  goods  to  different  parts  of  the 
village. 

Harry  entered  the  store,  and,  going  up  to  the 
counter,  said  to  the  proprietor,  who  was  standing 
behind,  "  Mr.  Porter,  I  want  two  pounds  of  brown 
sugar. " 


54  SINK  on  SWIAT;  u«, 

" How  is  your  mother?"  asked  the  store-keeper. 

"  Not  very  well,"  answered  Harry. 

"  No,  I  suppose  not.  Your  father's  death  mus*  tie 
a  great  blow  to  her." 

44  Yes,  sir.     It  is  to  all  of  us." 

"  I  hope  she  will  soon  be  feeling  better.  &**&&  is 
a  blessing  we  don't  appreciate  till  we  lose  * .  J  kave 
not  been  feeling  very  well,  lately.  In  fa**^  I  &m  not 
fit  to  be  in  the  store." 

44  Where  is  Alfred  Harper?  I  have  OCH,  seen  him 
for  a  day  or  two." 

44  He  has  been  taken  sick,  and  S*j»  gone  home. 
He  may  be  sick  some  weeks.  It  is  u^i^iy  just  now, 
for  I  am  not  fit  to  be  in  the  stor-*  I  wish  I  could 
get  somebody  to  take  his  place  for  /  tew  weeks." 

Here  an  idea  struck  Harry.  B«*  was  not  as  old  as 
Alfred  Harper,  but  he  was  strong,  and  he  thought  he 
might  be  able  to  do  his  work.  Hr  decided  to  suggest 
it  to  the  storekeeper 

44  If  you  thought  I  would  do/*  he  said,  44 1  should 
be  glad  to  come  into  the  store.  I  have  got  to  go  to 
work  now." 


tiARllj-  RAYMOND'S    HE  SOLVE.  55 

"  I  am  afraid  you  are  too  young,"  said  Mr.  Porter, 
doubtfully.  "  How  old  are  you  ?  " 

"  Fifteen,  sir." 

"  That  is  young." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  but  I  am  pretty  stout  and  strong  of  my 
age." 

"  You  look  so.     Can  you  drive  a  ho~se  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  sir  I  have  done  that  a  good  many 
times." 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  the  store-keeper,  hesitating  a 
little.  "  You  couldn't  do  as  much  as  Alfred ;  still, 
you  could  help  a  good  deal.  I  have  always  heard 
good  accounts  of  you.  Mr.  Gay  lord,  how  will  it  do 
to  engage  Harry  Raymond  a  few  weeks  while  Alfred 
is  away?" 

u  I  think  it  would  be  a  good  plan,  sir,"  said  John 
Graylord,  who  was  familiar  with  Harry's  good  reputa 
tion,  and  had  a  very  favorable  opinion  of  him.  "  It 
would  lighten  your  labors  a  good  deal." 

**  Very  true  ;  and  I  am  really  not  able  to  be  in  the 
store.  Well,  Harry,"  he  proceeded,  "  I  guess  you 
may  come." 

-When  shall  I  come?" 


56  AAVJT  OK  SWIM;  OK, 

"  The  sooner  the  better." 

vi  Then     I'll    come    tliis    afternoon/'    said    Ilarn 
promptly.     "  I  want  to  go  home  and  split  up  a  little 
wood  for  mother,  enough  to  last  her." 

%i  Very  well.  About  the  pay,  I  will  give  you  six 
dollars  a  week/* 

Six  dollars  a  week !  This  seemed  to  Harry  a  large 
sum.  His  father  had  only  been  paid  two  dollar  a 
per  day,  and  therefore  received  but  twice  as  much. 
He  had  hoped,  to  be  sure,  to  earn  more  as  a  peddler  • 
but  then  his  expenses  would  be  large,  and,  after  all 
he  might  fail,  for  it  was  but  an  experiment.  Here 
there  was  no  risk,  but  a  certain  weekly  income. 
Besides,  —  and  this  was  an  important  consideration, 
—  it  would  enable  him  to  continue  at  home,  and  he 
knew  that  just  at  this  time  his  mother  and  little  Katy 
would  feel  his  absence  more  than  at  any  other  time. 

Good  news  always  quickens  the  step.  Harry 
entered  the  house  briskly,  and  placed  the  parcels  he 
had  brought  from  the  store  upon  the  table. 

44  Here  are  the  sugar  and  butter,  mother,"  he  said. 
44  Now  I'll  go  out  and  split  you  some  wood,  for  I've 
got  to  go  to  work  this  afternoon/' 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  fr? 

"What  kind  of  work?"  asked  Mrs.  Raymond, 
looking  up. 

u  Alfred  Harper  is  sick,  and  so  is  Mr.  Porter.  So 
he  lias  engaged  me  to  take  Alfred's  place  for  the 
present,  at  a  salary  of  six  dollars  a  week.  I  think 
that's  pretty  lucky." 

44  Then  you  wont  have  to  leave  home,"  said  his 
mother,  brightening  up  for  the  first  time.  "  I  was  so 
afraid  you  would  have  to,  and  that  would  make  it 
veiy  lonely  for  Katy  and  me." 

"  No,  I  shall  be  at  home,  only  you  won't  see  much 
of  me,  for  I've  got  to  go  to  the  store  early,  and  I 
suppose  I  shall  get  home  late." 

"  At  any  rate,  you  won't  be  away  from  Vernon. 
I  don't  think  I  could  bear  to  part  from  you  just 
now/' 

"Did  you  call  and  see  Squire  Turner,  Harry?" 
asked  Katy. 

'4  Oh,  yes ;  I  almost  forgot  to  tell  you.  He  has 
taken  the  paper,  and  is  going  to  write  to  a  lawyer  in 
Milwaukie  about  it." 

"  Does  he  think  it  is  worth  anything?" 

kt  He  doesn't  give  much  hope,  it's  so  many  years 


58  /i'/jvvr  on  SWIM;  OR, 

ago  ;  so  we  won't  count  upon  it.  I  asked  him  about 
letting  me  have  a  hundred  dollars  to  start  in  business 
with,  and  he  said  he  would  let  me  know  to-morrow. 
I  didn't  know  then  that  I  could  get  a  place  with  Mr, 
Porter." 

u  I  would  rather  have  you  with  Mr.  Porter." 

uYes,  I  would  rather  stay  there  for  the  present. 
But  you  must  remember  that  it  won't  last  but  a  few 
weeks.  After  that  I  may  have  to  do  as  I  proposed," 

Harry  went  out,  and  labored  manfully  at  the  wood 
pile  for  a  couple  of  hours.  Then  he  got  the  basket 
and  carried  in  considerable  and  piled  it  up  in  the 
kitchen,  so  that  his  mother  might  not  have  the 
trouble  of  going  out  to  get  it. 

Meanwhile  Squire  Turner  was  writing  a  letter  to  a 
Mr.  Robinson,  a  Milwaukie  lawyer,  whom  he  knew. 
He  stated  the  matter  fully,  giving  his  correspondent, 
however,  the  idea  that  the  warrant  had  come  into  his 
own  possession.  In  fact,  he  had  made  up  his  mind, 
in  case  the  paper  should  be  worth  anything,  to  turn 
it  U>  his  own  benefit,  by  hook  or  by  crook.  He  was 
a  rich  man  already,  to  be  sure  ;  but  he  was  not  Con 
tented  with  what  he  had,  nor  was  he  likely  to  be. 


X < i R R  Y   RA  YMOND ' .>    R K .S f? 7.  PV?  5 9 

He  was,  as  I  have  already  stated,  a  grasping,  aval, 
cious  man,  and  as  long  as  money  went  into  hia 
pocket  he  cared  verjr  little  that  it  was  at  the  expense 
of  the  widow  and  orphan.  He  did  not  build  any  very 
high  hopes  on  the  warrant.  Still  he  was  not  a  man 
to  let  a  chance  slip  by. 

In  the  coarse  of  a  fortnight  he  received  an  answer 
to  his  letter.  As  it  is  of  some  importance,  I  will 
transcribe  it  here 

"  MIL WAU KIE,  Wis.,  May  27,  1*— . 

"  MR.  TURNER,  —  Dear  sir :  yours  of  the  21st,  ask 
ing  information  as  to  the  probable  value  of  a  certain 
land  warrant  in  your  possession,  has  come  to  hand. 
It  appears  that  the  land  was  located,  though  the 
owner  never  appeared  to  take  possession  of  it.  In 
consequence  it  has  fallen  into  the  hands  of  others. 
The  tract  in  question  is  a  valuable  one,  being  situated 
only  a  few  miles  out  of  Milwaukie,  and  has  upon  it 
several  valuable  buildings.  My  own  opinion  is,  that 
if  the  matter  is  followed  up,  though  you  might  not  be 
able  to  get  possession  without  a  protracted  lawsuit, 
so  much  value  being  involved,  the  present  holders 
would  be  willing  to  pay  a  considerable  sum  bv  way 


60  .s/iVJT    OR    SWIM ;    O.R, 

of  compromise.  It  might  be  worth  while  for  you  to 
couae  on,  and  see  about  the  matter  yourself.  1  will 
assist  you  to  the  best  of  my  ability. 

"  Yours  respectfully, 

"  FRANCIS  ROBINSON." 

Squire  Turner  read  this  letter  with  a  lively  inter 
est.  So  the  neglected  yellow  paper  promised  to  be 
valuable,  after  all.  Perhaps,  indeed,  it  might  be 
worth  thousands  of  dollars.  In  that  case,  Mrs.  Ray 
mond  would  be  very  well  off. 

The  main  question  in  Squire  Turner's  mind  was, 
how  could  he  manage  so  as  to  profit  by  it  himself. 
He  was  meditating  upon  this  as  he  walked  home  from 
the  post-office,  when  he  met  Harry  Raymond,  driving 
the  store-wagon. 

Harry  paused,  and  hailed  the  squire. 

"  Squire  Turner,"  he  said,  u  have  you  found  out 
anything  yet  about  that  paper  I  left  with  you  ?  " 

"  Not  yet,"  said  the  squire,  falsely  ;  for  he  had  no 
intention  of  disclosing  the  truth  at  present,  "  I  am 
afraid  we  can't  get  anything  for  it  after  so  many 
years.  When  I  hear  anything  I  will  let  you  know." 


&ARRX  RAYMONDS  RESOLVE.  <5i 

"I  was  afraid  it  was  too  long  ago,"  said  Harry; 
**  so  I  am  not  much  disappointed." 

ik  I  am  thinking  of  taking  a  little  trip  to  the  West 
before  long,"  said  Squire  Turner.  "  I  may  be  able 
to  find  out  something  about  it  then." 

Harry  started  the  horse  towards  the  store,  and 
thought  so  little  of  the  land  warrant  that  he  quite 
forgot  to  mention  the  matter  to  his  mother  in  tht 


32  HINX  OR  SWIM;  on, 


CHAPTER     VII. 

A    MKAN    TRICK. 

HARRY  RAYMOND  had  been  employed  in  Mi 
Porter's  store  but  a  few  days  when  he  had  b 
difficulty  with  James  Turner,  which  deserves  to  be 
chronicled.  Foi  various  reasons  James  cherished  a 
dislike  of  our  hero,  which  he  was  not  likely  to  get 
over  very  soon.  Harry  had  always  distanced  him  in 
his  studies,  and,  as  we  have  seen,  had  carried  off  the 
orize  for  declamation,  which  James  persuaded  himself 
would  have  been  his  but  for  the  partiality  of  Mr. 
Tower.  Again,  James  aspired  to  be  a  leader  among 
the  boys  at  school  and  in  the  village.  He  felt  that 
this  position  was  due  to  him  on  account  of  the  supe 
rior  wealth  of  his  father.  When  boys  assert  this 
claim  to  consideration,  it  is  generally  a  sign  that 
they  have  little  else  to  boast  of;  and  this  was 
precisely  the  case  with  James  Turner. 

Now,  it  may  appear  strange,  that  though   Squire 


RAYMOND'S  .RESOLVE.  63 

Turner  was  the  richest  man  in  the  village,  and  Mr» 
Raymond  one  of  the  poorest,  the  boys  paid  much 
more  respect  to  Harry  than  to  the  son  of  the  wealthy 
squire.  Harry  was  put  forward  prominently  on  all 
occasions  ;  as,  for  example,  when  a  military  company 
was  formed,  he  was  elected  captain,  while  James 
could  not  even  obtain  the  post  of  simple  corporal. 
Of  course  the  latter  withdrew  his  name  from  the  roll 
in  disgust ;  but  the  company,  so  far  from  being 
thrown  into  consternation,  appeared  to  thrive  about 
as  well  as  before.  This  military  organization  went 
by  the  name  of  the  Vernon  Guards,  and  consisted 
of  about  thirty  boys.  They  used  to  parade  on 
Saturday  afternoons,  when  a  sufficient  number  could 
be  gathered  for  duty,  and  the  young  captain,  who  had 
studied  up  his  duties,  discharged  them  in  a  very 
creditable  manner. 

James  Turner,  however,  had  one  consolation  in  all 
this  strange  neglect.  His  superiority  was  conceded 
by  one  boy,  who  was  in  the  habit  of  revolving  round 
him  like  a  humble  satellite,  This  was  Tom  Barton, 
who  has  already  been  referred  to.  Tom  was  a  born 
sycophant,  and  was  ready  on  all  occasions  to  natter 


b4  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OH> 

James  and  join  him  in  abusing  Harry  and  Harry'* 
friends.  Tom's  father  was  in  California  at  the 
mines.  His  mother  was  a  weak  woman,  of  an 
envious  disposition,  who  was  always  bewailing  her 
fate  in  having  married  a  poor  man  instead  of  a 
certain  other  person  who  had  turned  out  rich,  and 
who,  as  she  asserted,  bad  offered  her  his  hand  in 
early  life.  In  fact,  it  was  generally  supposed  that 
her  complaints  had  driven  her  husband  to  California 
to  seek  for  the  fortune  for  which  she  was  continually 
pining.  As  for  Tom,  she  considered  him  one  of  the 
smartest  boys  in  America,  and,  as  might  be  expected, 
asserted  that  he  took  after  her,  and  not  after  his 
father. 

"  There  aint  any  Barton  about  him,"  she  said 
"  He's  all  Jessup." 

This  was  not  far  from  true.  Tom  certainly  did 
inherit  his  mother's  mean  and  disa,greeable  qualities, 
and  there  were  very  few  points  in  which  he  resembled 
bis  father,  who  was  really  a  worthy  man,  and 
deserved  &  better  wife  than  had  been  allotted  to 
him. 

It  might  have  been  supposed  that  Harry's  misfor- 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  jtESOirs.  65 

time  in  losing  his  father  would  have  led  to  a  suspen 
sion  of  ill  feeling  on  the  part  of  James  and  his 
sycophant.  But  I  have  already  said  that  James  was 
a  mean  boy,  and  Tom  was  in  this  respect  a  very 
fitting  companion  for  him.  Indeed,  Tom,  besides 
espousing  James's  quarrel,  had  a  personal  grievance 
of  his  own.  At  the  time  that  Alfred  Harper  entered 
the  village  store,  Mr.  Porter  had  an  application  for 
the  place  from  Tom,  which  he  had  seen  fit  to  decline 
without  assigning  any  reasons  for  so  doing.  In 
fact,  Tom  had  the  reputation  of  being  lazy  and  self- 
sufficient,  and  the  store-keeper  rightly  concluded  that 
be  would  not  be  likely  to  prove  a  very  valuable 
assistant.  When  Tom  heard  that  the  coveted  place 
had  been  given  to  Harry,  he  felt  highly  indignant, 
not  only  with  Mr.  Porter,  but  with  Harry  himself, 
and  was  anxious  for  an  opportunity  of  wreaking  ven 
geance  upon  our  hero.  Now,  the  manliest  way  would 
have  been  to  make  a  direct  assault  upon  him ;  but 
this  he  did  not  care  to  do.  He  knew  that  Harry 
had  a  pair  of  good,  strong  arms,  and  was  ready  on 
all  occasions  to  defend  himself.  If  he  should  venture 

upoj   an  attack,  it  was  pretty  clear  to  him  that  he 

5 


66  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR. 

would  get  the  worst  of  it,  and  this  would  be  very  far 
from  suiting  him.  He  preferred  to  wait  for  some 
secret  way  of  injuring  him. 

That  opportunity  came  about  a  week  after  Harry 
had  entered  upon  his  duties  in  Mr.  Porter's  store. 

It  has  already  been  said  that  one  of  his  duties  was 
to  drive  the  store-wagon,  and  deliver  groceries  in 
different  parts  of  the  village.  One  afternoon  he  was 
driving  at  about  half  a  mile  distance  from  the  store. 
Among  other  articles  in  the  wagon  was  a  basket 
containing  three  dozen  eggs,  which,  by  the  way, 
were  to  be  delivered  to  Squire  Turners  house 
keeper. 

Just  about  this  part  of  the  road  there  was  a  cliff 
on  one  side,  about  twenty  feet  in  height,  with  a  steep, 
almost  perpendicular,  descent.  The  field  terminating 
thus  abruptly  belonged  to  Squire  Turner.  It  so 
happened  that  James  Turner  and  Tom  Barton  were 
walking  leisurely  along  the  cliff  just  as  Harry  caine 
driving  by. 

"  There's  Harrj  Raymond,"  said  Tom,  spitefully. 
"  Old  Barton  must  have  been  hard  up  for  a  clerk 
when  he  took  him." 


67 

•*  I  suppose  he  took  pity  on  him,'*  said  James, 
•  aDd  gave  him  the  situation  to-  keep  him  out  of  the 
poor-house." 

kl  That  isn't  the  way  he  looks  at  it,"  said  Tom. 
u  He  puts  on  as  many  airs  as  if  he  owned  the  store 
himself." 

"  Didn't  you  try  for  the  place  once,  Tom?  " 

4k  Why,  not  exactly,"  said  Tom.  "  I  told  him  I 
would  take  it  if  he  couldn't  get  anybody  else.  It 
isn't  much  of  a  place." 

Of  course  this  was  only  a  salvo  for  Tom's 
wounded  pride,  for  he  had  been  eager  to  enter  the 
store. 

"  I'll  tell  you  what,"  added  Tom,  after  a  pause, 
^  suppose  we  play  a  trick  on  Raymond.'* 

u  What  sort  of  a  trick?  " 

a  Suppose  we  pitch  a  stone  into  that  basket  of 
eo-p-s.  There'll  be  an  awful  smash,  and  he  can't  see 

&G 

who  did  it." 

This  was  a  proposition  which  just  suited  James. 
It  would  get  Harry  into  trouble  with  his  employer, 
and  this  of  course  would  be  rare  sport.  Then,  as 
they  could  easily  withdraw  from  sight,  he  would 


68  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR 

never  know  to  whom  he  was  indebted  for  the  favor 
All    these     considerations     darted    through     James 
Turner's    mind   more   quickly   than    I   have    stated 
them,  and  he  responded  :  — 

"  All  right,  Tom.  You  do  it.  You  r  in  hre 
itraighter  than  I." 

Tom  needed  no  second  approval.  He  se^ed  a 
stone  about  as  large  as  his  two  fists,  or  perhaps  a 
little  larger,  and,  bending  over  the  cliff,  fired  it 
directly  at  the  basket. 

His  success  was  ail  that  he  could  have  wished. 
His  aim  was  a  true  one,  and  the  first  Harry  knew  of 
the  "  trick,"  there  was  a  loud  crash  behind  him,  and 
the  contents  of  the  eggs  were  partially  spattered 
over  him.  Glancing  quickly  back,  he  saw  that  the 
wreck  was  almost  total.  Of  the  three  dozen  eggs 
not  one  third  had  escaped  destruction. 

Now,  though  Harry  was  naturally  good-natured,  he 
felt  that  this  was  a  little  too  much  for  good-nature. 
It  might  be  a  joke ;  but  he  could  not  see  it  in  thai 
light.  He  knew  that  he  was  likely  to  be  blamed  for 
the  accident,  and  he  resolved  to  find  out  how  it  came 
about.  It  was  not  very  probable  that  the  stone  came 


RESOLVE,  69 

mro  the  basket  of  its  own  volition.  There  was 
evidently  some  human  agency  concerned,  and  this 
agency  Harry  determined  to  ascertain. 

Looking  up,  he  just  caught  a  glimpse  of  Tom 
Barton  peering  over  to  see  what  mischief  had  been 
clone. 

w>  It's  that  mean  Tom  Barton,"  he  said  to  himself. 
"  He's  about  the  only  fellow  mean  enough  to  play 
such  a  trick.  Perhaps  he  thinks  I'm  going  to  stand 
it." 

"  Whoa  !  "  shouted  Harry. 

In  obedience  to  the  summons  the  horse  came  to  a 
halt, 

Harry  drew  him  to  the  side  of  the  road,  and 
jumped  out  of  the  wagon.  He  hesitated  about  leav 
ing  the  horse  unattended ;  but  just  at  that  moment 
Will  Poineroy  came  along. 

"  Just  mind  the  horse  a  minute,  Will,"  said  Harry. 

u  Where  are  you  going?  " 

"  I'll  tell  you  when  I  come  back." 

Our  hero  felt  that  there  was  no  time  for  expla 
nation,  lie  began  to  clamber  up  the  side  of  the  cliff. 
This  was  a  hard  job,  for  it  w;is  nearly  perpendicular. 


70  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OK, 

but  here  and  there  were  roots  and  bushes  that  helped 
him  along.  Probably  his  indignation  helped  him,  for 
in  a  very  short  time  he  reached  the  top. 

Tom  Barton  was  elated  at  the  success  of  his  trick. 
After  first  looking  over  to  see  the  extent  of  the 
damage,  he  withdrew  to  a  short  distance,  and  threw 
himself  under  a  tree  by  the  side  of  James  Turner. 
He  felt  entirely  safe,  not  having  the  least  idea  that 
Harry  would  undertake  to  climb  the  cliff. 

The  two  boys  were  laughing  together  over  the 
success  of  their  trick,  when  the  figure  of  our  hero,  his 
face  red  with  excitement,  and  his  hands  chafed  and 
torn,  presented  itself  unexpectedly. 

*Tom  sprang  to  his  feet  in  dismay. 

u  Look  here,  Tom  Barton,"  said  Harry,  in  a  quick, 
peremptory  way,  "  what  did  you  mean  by  pitching  a 
stone  into  my  basket  of  eggs  ?  " 

"  Don't  be  afraid,"  said  James  Turner,  in  a  low 
voice  ;  "  I'll  stand  by  you." 

This  emboldened  Tom.  Though  he  would  not 
have  luted  to  engage  in  single  combat  with  Harry,  he 
concluded  that  our  hero  would  be  in  no  baste  to 
engage  both.  So  he  answered,  insolertly  :  — 


FJA  r  K  f    ft  A  rMOND*  S    RES  <~>L  VR . 

"k  None  of  your  business  !  " 

"  It  strikes  me  that  it  is  my  business,"  said  Harry, 
warmly.  "  It  was  a  mean,  contemptible  trick." 

44  What  are  you  going  to  do  about  it?"  sneered 
Tom. 

Now  I  am  not  going  to  justify  Harry  for  the  course 
he  took,  but  it  was  certainly  very  natural. 

44  Stand  up  here,  if  you  dare,  and  you'll  see,"  he 
answered,  with  compressed  lips. 

44  Let's  give  him  a  licking,  James,"  said  Tom. 
"•  It'll  do  him  good." 

Both  boys  sprang  to  their  feet,  and  advanced 
towards  our  hero.  He  saw  that  his  task  was  not 
going  to  be  an  easy  one.  The  united  strength  of 
both  of  his  assailants  was  undoubtedly  greater  than 
his  own.  If  he  allowed  the  two  to  come  to  close 
quarters  with  him,  he  would  probably  get  the  worst 
of  it.  Here  was  a  chance  for  strategy,  and  he  re 
solved  to  improve  it. 


72  SINK  OR  SWIM;  o«, 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE    BATTLE    OF   THE    CLIFF. 

SOKTE  of  iny  readers  are  no  doubt  familiar  with  the 
memorable  combat  between  the  Horatii  and  the 
Ouiatii,  told  in  all  the  Roman  histories.  There  were 
thre*  brothers  on  each  side,  and  th«  contest  between 
them  A'as  to  decide  the  fortunes  of  the  armies  to 
which  they  respectively  belonged.  After  a  time  two 
of  the  Horatii  lay  dead  upon  the  field.  The  third, 
unhun.,  found  himself  op\  osed  to  three  adversaries, 
all  of  whom,  however,  w  re  wounded.  These  >e 
managed  to  engage  singly,  and  was  thus  enabled  to 
overcome  them  in  turn. 

1  am  not  sure  whether  Harry  Raymond  had  tu**rd 
of  this  historical  combat ;  but  when  he  found  himself 
opposed  to  two  enemies,  it  struck  him  at  once  that 
this  was  his  proper  course,  if  he  wanted  t«  come  off 
victorious. 


HARRY  RAYMOXD'S  EE SOLVE.  75 

As  Toin  and  James  advanced  upon  him,  he  feigned 
to  retreat. 

k4  He's  afraid  !  "  said  Tom,  in  exultation.  4fc  Let's 
give  him  a  licking." 

James  had  no  possible  objection.  Indeed,  he  felt 
that  there  was  nothing  he  would  enjoy  so  much  as  to 
see  our  hero  humiliated.  He  would  not  have  ven 
tured  to  attack  him  alone,  but  now  with  Tom's  assist 
ance  there  seemed  an  excellent  opportunity,  such  as 
might  not  again  present  itself. 

'•  Go  ahead  !  "  he  called  out.     "  I'll  help  you/' 

Tom  did  go  ahead.  Being  a  faster  runner  than 
James,  he  found  himself  separated  from  him  by  a 
considerable  distance  in  the  impetuosity  of  his 
pursuit. 

Harry  turned  his  head,  and,  seeing  that  his  oppor 
tunity  had  come,  suddenly  faced  round  upon  his 
astonished  adversary. 

Tom,  unable  to  check  himself,  almost  rushed  into 
the  arms  of  our  hero. 

k-  Now  defend  yourself! "  shouted  Harry. 

So  saying,  he  clinched  Tom,  who  was  too  aston 
ished  to  defend  himself  properly,  and  with  a  quick 


74  SINK  OE  SWIM;  OR, 

movement  of  the  leg  brought  him  down  heavily  upon 
the  ground,  with  Harry  on  top. 

Lying  on  the  ground,  in  such  a  position  as  to  fit 
Into  the  small  of  Tom's  back,  was  a  stone  abouf-  as 
large  as  the  one  he  had  thrown  into  the  basket  of 
eggs.  The  sensation  which  resulted  from  falling 
upon  it  was  by  no  means  pleasant. 

"  Oh  !  "  he  whined,  "  I've  broken  my  backbone 
Get  off  from  me,  Harry  Raymond." 

"  I  guess  you'll  get  over  it,"  said  Harry,  who  knew 
that  the  hurt  could  not  be  very  serious. 

"  Jim  Turner  !  "  shouted  the  fallen  hero. 

James,  who  had  witnessed  his  friend's  discomfiture, 
paused  at  a  little  distance.  He  began  to  doubt 
whether  it  would  be  prudent  to  take  an  active  part  in 
the  hostilities.  His  confederate  was  disabled,  and  he 
strongly  suspected  that  Harry  was  more  than  a 
match  for  him.  Still  he  was  rather  ashamed  to  hold 
aloof. 

"  Let  him  alone ! "  he  called  out,  from  the  place 
where  he  stood,  making  no  motion  to  advance. 

"  Come  and  help  me,  Jim  1  You  said  you  would,* 
said  Tom. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  75 

"  I'll  have  you  arrested,"  said  Janies,  preparing  to 
«n  ar  with  his  tongue. 

"  Take  him  off! "  entreated  Tom. 

Thus  adjured,  James  advanced  with  hesitating 
steps  to  the  rescue.  He  would  rather  have  been 
excused,  and  had  there  been  any  decent  pretext  for 
giving  up  the  undertaking  he  would  have  done  so. 
But.  though  his  sentiment  of  honor  was  not  very 
keen,  it  did  occur  to  him  that  it  would  be  rather 
mean  to  leave  Tom  in  the  lurch,  after  he  had  urged 
him  on  to  the  assault  with  the  promise  of  assistance. 

"  Let  him  alone !  "  he  exclaimed,  reinforcing  his 
failing  courage  with  a  little  bluster,  "  or  you'll  get 
the  worst  licking  you  ever  had." 

"  Who'll  give  it  to  me?  "  asked  Harry,  composedly. 

He  had  merely  retained  his  position,  pinning  Tom 
to  the  ground,  but  not  striking  him ;  for  he  was  too 
honorable  to  strike  a  prostrate  foe. 

"  I  will,"  said  James,  with  a  boldness  of  manner 
which  did  not  by  any  means  correspond  to  his  inward 
feelings. 

So  saying,  he  made  a  step  or  two  in  advance,  in  a 
threatening  manner. 


76  SIXK  OR  SWIM;  o&* 

Harry  sprang  up  suddenly,  and  advanced  upon  his 
new  foe. 

44  I'm  ready  for  you,  James  Turner,"  he  said,  fc*  now 
or  at  any  other  time.  Come  on,  if  you  dare." 

James  paused  in  his  advance.  He  did  not  like  the 
position  of  affairs  at  all.  He  had  never  bargained  to 
meet  Harry  in  single  combat,  and  now  it  appeared 
likely  that  he  would  have  to  do  so. 

44  Get  up,  Tom,"  he  caUed  out.  44  The  two  of  us 
can  whip  him  soundly." 

44 1  can't  do  anything,"  whined  Tom.  44  My  back's 
most  broke." 

He  rose  slowly  from  the  ground,  and  began  with  a 
rueful  face  to  rub  the  injured  portion  of  his  frame. 

Thus  left  to  himself  James  saw  that  there  was  no 
backing  out.  He  had  provoked  the  contest,  and 
must  take  the  consequences.  What  these  were  likely 
to  be  he  was  cheerfully  reminded  by  Tom's  doleful 
face.  He  resolved  to  secure  his  co-operation  if 
possible. 

44  Come  along,  Tom,"  he  urged.  44  Just  help  me  a 
little,  and  I'll  manage  him." 


.V.4  /:  A  F    fl  ,4  TifOND  .*?    /? JS .» OL  r/? .  j •  7 

"4  '  can't,"  said  Tom,  dismally.  ;  Th.it  plag'iy 
rook's  worn  a  hole  in  iny  back." 

-k  ['11  stand  you  both,"  said  Harry,  stoutly, 
"  You've  served  me  a  mean  trick,  and  you  ought  to 
he  punished.*' 

Just  then  James  noticed  a  stone  about  the  size  of 
hi?  fist  lying  on.  the  ground  before  him.  It  was  a 
mean  and  cowardly  impulse  that  led  him  to  pick  it 
up,  r. nd  fire  it  full  at  our  hero's  head.  Had  it  struck 
him,  the  injury  would  have  been  serious,  if  not  fatal; 
but  Harry  quickly  divined  his  intention,  and  dropped 
suddenly  to  the  ground.  The  stone  passed  harm 
lessly  over  his  head. 

"  You  shall  pay  for  that,  James  Turner,"  he  said, 
angrily.  "  No  one  but  a  coward  would  do  such  a 
thing," 

As  he  spoke  he  sprang  forward,  and  grappled  with 
his  adversary.  James,  having  a  premonition  of 
defeat,  defended  himself  poorly,  flinging  out  blows  at 
random.  In  less  than  a  minute  he,  too,  was  pros 
trate,  with  Harry  on  top. 

*•  Help  !  "  he  screamed,  making  desperate  efforts  to 
unseat  his  opponent. 


78  siyx  on  SWIM;  ox, 

But  Harry  held  him  down  with  a  tight  grip.  Tom 
had  had  enough  fighting,  and  did  not  stir  to  his 
assistance. 

"  Get  up,  you  ragamuffin  !  "  he  screamed.  In  fact 
he  was  more  mortified  that  his  defeat  should  have 
come  from  Harry  Raymond  than  if  his  opponent  had 
been  of  his  own  position.  That  a  poor  boy  like 
Harry  should  treat  with  such  indignity  his  father's 
son  was  a  gross  outrage  which  filled  him  with  vex 
ation. 

"  Let  me  up,  you  beggar !  "  he  cried,  again. 

"  You'll  have  to  speak  to  me  in  a  different  style 
before  I  let  you  up,"  said  Harry,  coolly,  for  he  felt 
that  the  advantage  was  in  his  hands,  and  that  it  was 
for  him  to  dictate  terms  of  subnotion. 

"  I  called  you  by  your  right  name,"  said  James, 
provoked  beyond  the  limits  of  prudence.  kk  You  are 
a  ragamuffin  and  a  beggar." 

"  It  strikes  me  that  you  are  a  beggar  just  now," 
said  our  hero. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  mean  that  you  are  begging  me  to  let  you 
np." 


BARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  7t> 

44  If  you  don't  I'll  have  you  arrested."  said  James, 
with  another  violent  but  ineffectual  struggle. 

"  You're  welcome  to  do  it,'*  said  Harry.  "  Perhaps 
there'll  be  something  to  say  on  my  side  as  well  as 
yours." 

"  If  you  don't  come  and  help  me,  Tom  Barton,  I'll 
never  speak  to  you  again,"  said  James,  whose  anger 
was  now  directed  against  his  confederate. 

"I  would  if  I  could,"  said  Tom,  "but  my  back's 
too  sore." 

The  fact  was,  that  Tom's  back  was  not  quite  so 
much  hurt  as  he  wished  to  have  it  believed,  but  he 
had  no  inclination  to  attack  Harry  again.  The  ease 
with  which  he  had  been  thrown,  caused  him  to 
realize  that  Harry  carried  "  too  many  guns  for  him," 
as  the  phrase  is ;  and,  though  he  was  ready  to  fawn 
upon  James,  he  was  not  willing  to  compromise  his 
personal  safety  for  him.  But  a  bright  idea  occurred 
to  him. 

*»  111  go  and  call  your  father,"  he  said. 

James  did  not  answer.  He  would  rather  have  had 
Tom's  personal  aid,  but  that  he  was  not  likely  to 


>  SINK  on  SWIM;  OR, 

obtain.     Tom  Barton,  glad  to  get  away,  limped  oil' 
towards  the  road. 

"  Are  you  going  to  let  me  up  ?  "  demanded  James,, 
fiercely. 

u  That  depends  upon  whether  you  behave  yourself. 
Promise  to  fire  no  more  stones  at  me." 

« I  won't." 

44  You  won't  fire  any  stones  ?  " 

"  No,  I  won't  promise/' 

*'  Very  well.  Then  you  may  lie  here  a  little 
longer." 

So  the  two  remained  in  their  old  position.  Five 
minutes  passed,  and  James  renewed  his  demand. 

"  As  soon  as  you  will  say  that  you  won't  fire  any 
more  stones  you  shall  get  up." 

"  I  don't  mean  to,"  said  James,  sullenly. 

"  All  right !  That's  all  I  want,"  ssM  Harry  ;  and 
he  relaxed  his  hold  upon  his  prostrate  'be,  an*  rose- 
to  his  feet. 

James  picked  himself  up,  and  glareu  at, 
a  look  by  no  means  friendly. 

"  You  shall  pay  for  this,"  he  said. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  8) 

u  Who  is  going  to  pay  for  the  eggs  you  broke?" 

retorted  our  hero. 

"  I  rlidn't  break  them/* 

-'  You  approved  it,  at  any  rate." 

"  Yes,  I  did,"  said  James. 

u  You  probably  didn't  know  where  I  was  carrying 
them," 

"  Where?"  James  condescended  to  ask. 

"  To  your  house.  I've  lost  time  enough  already, 
and  must  be  getting  back." 

Hany  hurried  to  the  road,  where  he  found  the 
wagon  safe  under  the  charge  of  Will  Pomeroy. 
Jumping  in,  he  drove  in  haste  to  Squire  Turner's 
residence,  and  taking  the  basket  of  eggs  carried  them 
round  to  the  side  door,  which  was  opened  by  Mrs. 
Murray,  the  house-keeper. 

"  Here  fire  some  eggs  from  the  store,"  said  Harry, 
holding  out  the  basket. 

"  Why,  they're  all  broke,"  said  the  house-keeper,  in 
dismay. 

"  I  know  it,"  said  Harry.  "  If  you  want  to  know 
how  it  happened  ask  James." 


on  SWIM;  GJZ, 

"Well,  I  never!"  ejaculated  the  house-keeper, 
mechanically  taking  the  basket.  "  The  squire'll  have 
to  do  without  his  omelet  to-night,  that's  sure." 


MJLRRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  88 


CHAPTER    IX. 

FIBE! 

JA.HES  did  not  fail  to  make  a  report  to  his  father  of 
the  outrage  which  he  had  received  at  the  hands  of 
Harry  Raymond.  Over  the  trick  which  Tom  and  he 
had  played  upon  our  hero  he  passed  rather  lightly. 

"  It  seems  there  were  two  of  you,"  said  the  squire. 
a  Why  didn't  you  give  him  such  a  lesson  as  he  would 
have  remembered  ?  " 

•'  I  would  if  Tom  had  stood  by  me. 

44  Why  didn't  he?" 

"  Oh,  he  pretended  to  be  very  much  hurt !  "  said 
James. 

u  Couldn't  you  manage  young  Raymond  alone?" 

"No;  he's  as  strong  as  a  bull.  He's  had  to  work 
for  a  living,  and  that  has  given  him  muscle." 

"  Then  you  and  Tom  had  better  watch  your  chance, 
and  give  him  a  sound  thrashing.  I  am  perfectly 
willing." 


84  SINK  on  SWIM;  ox, 

This  was  not  quite  what  James  wanted.  The 
res.  H  of  the  first  contest  had  not  been  such  as  to 
encourage  him  much  to  renew  it,  even  with  Tom's 
assistance,  and  this  might  fail  him  at  a  critical 
moment  as  on  a  former  occasion. 

"  Haven't  you  got  a  mortgage  on  his  mother's 
place  ?  "  he  asked,  hesitating. 

"  Well,  what  of  it?  "  said  the  squire. 

"  Can't  you  call  for  the  money,  and  if  she  can't  pay 
it  turn  her  out  of  the  house  ?  " 

wt  I  don't  care  to  do  it  at  present,"  said  the  squire. 
"  You  must  settle  your  quarrel  in  some  other  way." 

"  Are  you  going  to  pay  for  the  broken  eggs?" 

u  As  long  as  you  broke  them,  I  can't  very  well 
refuse." 

"  It  wasn't  me.     It  was  Tom." 

There's  little  difference." 

James  was  rather  astonished  at  the  moderate  view 
which  his  father  took  of  the  matter.  He  had  been 
fully  convinced  that  the  squire  would  sympathize 
with  him  in  the  affair,  and  be  ready  to  join  in  any 
scheme  to  punish  Harry  Raymond  fox  his  insolence. 
Under  ordinary  circumstances,  this  was  precisely 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  85 

what  his  father  would  have  done.  But  there  was  a 
secret  cause  for  his  present  conduct,  and  this  shall 
at  once  be  explained. 

It  has  been  said  that  Squire  Turner  had  offered 
himself  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Raymond  in  early  life, 
and  that  she  had  seen  fit  to  decline  his  proposal. 
Both  she  and  the  squire  had  married,  but  now,  by 
the  dispensation  of  Providence,  she  was  a  widow  and 
he  a  widower.  Though  now  thirty-six,  Mrs.  Ray 
mond  was  still  a  handsome  woman,  and,  if  surrounded 
by  the  appliances  of  wealth,  she  would  make  a  wife 
of  whom  any  man  might  be  proud.  Certainly  she 
presented  a  very  favorable  contrast  to  the  late  Mrs. 
Turner,  who  had  a  sour,  acid  visage,  and  a  temper 
to  mutch,  as  her  husband  had  often  experienced  to 
his  cost.  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  when  that 
amiable  lady  was  removed  by  death  her  husband  was 
not  disconsolate,  but  consoled  himself  with  the  fact 
that  she  could  not  carry  away  the  property  which  she 
had  brought  him,  and  without  which  she  would  never 
have  become  Mrs.  Turner. 

Now  the  squire  had  had  some  vague  thoughts  that 
he  might  marry  again,  but  no  one  in  particular  had 


86  SINK  OR  SWIM;  ojs, 

occurred  to  him  as  worthy  to  fill  the  place  of  the  late 
Mrs.  Turner.  But  when  Mrs.  Raymond  was  suddenly 
left  a  widow,  and  the  report  of  the  lawyer  in  Mil- 
waukie  rendered  it  likely  that  she  might  coine  into 
possession  of  a  considerable  sum  of  money,  it  set  the 
squire  to  thinking. 

Mrs.  Raymond  was  still  a  young  woman,  and  he 
had  never  got  over  the  fancy  he  had  felt  for  her  in 
earlier  years.  Indeed,  she  was  the  only  one  that  had 
ever  touched  the  squire's  rather  flinty  heart.  He  had 
not  even  liked  the  late  Mrs.  Turner,  which  was  not 
much  to  be  wondered  at,  for  it  is  doubtful  whether 
the  warmest-hearted  person  could  have  felt  much 
affection  for  so  disagreeable  a  woman.  He  was  rather 
pleased  with  the  idea  of  offering  his  hand  to  his  first 
love,  especially  if  she  could  bring  him  a  handsome 
addition  to  his  present  property.  The  chances  of  this 
he  thought  very  fair.  The  lawyer  had  written  very 
encouragingly,  and  he  knew  how  rapidly  real  estate 
advanced  at  the  West. 

There  was  one  important  question,  Would  Mrs. 
Raymond  smile  upon  his  suit,  or  would  she  repulse 
him  as  before?  The  squire  thought  with  proper 


r  RA  YMOND  s1   /?>:  .so/.  r/<  . 


management  he  might  secure  her  consent.  She  hud 
outlived  the  period  of  romance  ;  there  was  no  rival 
in  the  way,  and  for  the  sake  of  her  children  she  would 
find  it  advisable  to  accept  a  proposal  which  would  a* 
once  remove  all  pecuniary  anxiety.  Of  course,  if  shi 
knew  of  the  probable  value  of  the  land  warrant,  that 
would  make  a  great  difference.  But  Squire  Turner 
resolved  to  keep  her  in  ignorance  of  this,  until  he  had 
time  to  settle  his  matrimonial  plans. 

It  will  now  be  understood  why  James  failed  to  win 
his  father's  co-operation  in  his  schemes  of  retaliation 
upon  Harry.  It  was  the  squire's  cue  to  be  friendly 
and  conciliatory,  even  to  our  hero,  who  he  suspected 
had  considerable  influence  over  his  mother,  and  might 
use  that  influence  to  defeat  his  plans.  In  his  secret 
heart,  however,  Squire  Turner  disliked  Harry  not  a 
little,  and  would  have  been  very  glad  of  any  little 
disaster  which  might  come  to  our  hero.  Should  he 
receive  a  beating  at  the  hands  of  Tom  Barton  and 
James,  the  squire  would  not  be  likely  to  censure 
either  very  much. 

That  very  evening  something  happened,  which  went 
far  to  increase  the  dislike  and  aversion  of  the  squire 


BS  SIA'K  OR  SWIM;  OR. 

to  our  hero,  and  in  the  end  had  considerable  influence 
upon  Harry's  career. 

It  was  between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock  that  Mrs 
Raymond  came  suddenly  into  Harry's  room,  and 
walked  him  up. 

'4  Harry,"  she  said,  in  a  tone  of  excitement,  u  Katy 
is  taken  sick,  and  is  in  great  pain.  I  want  you  to 
put  on  your  clothes  at  once,  and  go  as  fast  as  you 
can  to  Dr.  Lamson's." 

Harry  needed  no  second  bidding.  He  could  hear 
Katy  moaning,  and  shared  in  his  mother's  alarm. 
He  dressed  in  "  double  quick  time,"  and  set  off  by 
the  nearest  route  for  the  house  of  Dr.  Lamson. 

The  doctor  lived  at  a  considerable  distance.  By  the 
road  it  was  full  a  mile  and  a  quarter.  But  there  was 
a  way  of  cutting  off  from  a  quarter  to  a  third  of  a 
mile  by  "  cutting  across  lots."  This  made  the  jour 
ney  rather  a  dark  and  lonely  one,  especially  as  there 
was  no  moon,  and  there  were  but  few  stars  out. 
Harry  had  a  stout  heart  and  a  clear  conscience,  and 
was  not  easily  daunted.  Besides,  he  had  his  little 
sister  to  think  of,  and  this  was  enough  to  fill  his 
mind  to  the  exclusion  of  anything  else. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  89 

In  due  time  he  reached  the  doctor's  door,  and 
knocked.  He  had  to  repeat  his  knock.  Upon  doing 
ao  the  doctor  put  out  his  head  from  an  upper  window. 

"  Who's  there  ?  "  he  asked. 

44  It's  I.  —  Harry  Raymond." 

44  Oh,  it's  you,  Harry.     Anybody  sick  at  home?** 

44  Yes,  my  sister  Katy.  She  is  in  a  good  deal  of 
pain.  Can  you  come  right  off?  " 

"I'll  get  ready  at  once.  Will  you  stop  and  ride 
with  me?" 

44  No,  thank  you,  doctor.  I'll  run  home  and  tell 
mother  you're  coming." 

44  I  may  be  there  first,  Harry.  However,  perhaps 
you  will  feel  better  to  go." 

The  doctor  knew  that  when  a  friend  or  relative  is 
in  danger,  nothing  is  harder  to  bear  than  passive  sus 
pense,  and  that  action  is  a  relief.  So  he  interposed 
no  objections  to  Harry's  wish. 

Harry  naturally  decided  to  return  by  the  same 
short  cut  by  which  he  had  come.  On  the  way  was  a 
lonely  old  building,  aloof  from  the  road,  but  very 
near  his  path,  which  had  recently  fallen  into  posses 
sion  of  Squire  Turner.  It  was  not  tenanted,  and 


90  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR* 

would  require  considerable  repairs  before  it  would  be 
in  order  to  receive  tenants.  Ten  years  before,  it  had 
been  insured  with  a  fire  insurance  company  for  un 
amount  below  its  value  at  that  time.  The  insurance 
had  been  kept  up,  but  the  value  had  so  depreciated 
that  it  would  be  a  profitable  thing  for  the  proprietor 
if  it  should  be  consumed  by  fire. 

Squire  Turner  was  aware  of  this,  and  in  an  evil 
hour,  under  the  influence  of  cupidity,  determined  to 
set  fire  to  his  own  building,  in  order  to  realize  the 
insurance  money. 

Being  in  a  lonely  situation,  he  thought  he  should 
be  able  to  set  fire  to  the  house,  and  return  home  before 
the  village  awoke  to  the  fact  that  there  was  a  fire, 
while  there  was  not  much  chance  of  the  wheezy 
old  engine  getting  to  the  spot  in  time  to  arrest  the 
conflagration. 

Harry  was  a  few  rods  from  the  house  when  his  at 
tention  was  arrested  by  a  sight  which  struck  htm 
with  dismay.  A  man  muffled  in  an  overcoat  waa 
stooping  over  a  basket  of  shavings.  In  a  moment 
there  was  a  tiny  light,  proceeding  from  a  match. 
This  was  communicated  to  the  shavings,  which 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  in 

caught  at  once.  The  man  threw  the  basket  with  its 
combustible  contents  into  the  house  through  a  broken 
sash,  and,  after  pausing  a  moment  to  judge  whether  it 
was  likely  to  accomplish  his  purpose,  turned  swiftly 
away.  His  coat-collar  was  up,  and  his  hat  was 
drawn  down  over  his  face  as  he  turned  round.  His 
amazement  may  be  imagined  when  he  found  that  the 
midnight  incendiary  was  no  other  than  Squire  Turner 
himself! 

"What  can  it  mean?"  he  thought,  bewildered. 

Fifteen  minutes  later  the  house,  which  was  a  mere 
tinder-box,  was  in  flames,  and  the  startled  villagers, 
aroused  from  their  slumbers,  saw  a  bright  flame  re 
flected  against  the  dark  midnight  sky, 


IS  surf  OR  SWIM;  ox. 


CHAPTER   X 

AFTER   THE    FIRE. 

BT  the  time  the  fire-engine  reached  the  burning 
house,  the  flames  were  so  far  advanced  that  there  was 
no  chance  of  saving  it.  For  form's  salve,  a  stream  of 
water  was  thrown  upon  the  flames  from  the  well 
near  by,  but  the  supply  was  soon  exhausted,  and  pro 
duced  no  effect  whatever.  So  the  engine  was  drawn 
back  to  the  engine-house,  the  crowd  dispersed,  and  ic 
place  of  the  old  house  there  was  a  heap  of  half-burnt 
rafters  and  cinders. 

The  next  day  the  fire  was  the  topic  of  conversation 
throughout  the  village.  Being  in  the  store,  Harry 
had  an  opportunity  of  hearing  it  discussed  by  those 
who  u  dropped  in  "  to  make  purchases. 

u  Was  the  house  insured?  "  asked  old  Sam  Tilden, 
filling  the  bowl  of  his  pipe  with  tobacco,  preparatory 
to  having  a  comfortable  .sir 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  95 

"  I  reckon  it  was,"  said  another.  "  The  squire's  a 
keerful  man.  He  wouldn't  be  likely  to  neglect  it." 

"•  Here's  the  squire  himself.  You  can  ask  him,*' 
said  John  Gay  lord,  the  chief  salesman,  who  was 
doing  up  half-a-dozen  pounds  of  sugar  for  a  cus 
tomer. 

Harry,  remembering  what  he  had  seen  the  night 
before,  looked  up  with  mingled  feelings  as  he  saw  the 
rather  stiff  and  stately  form  of  Squire  Turner  enter 
the  door. 

The  squire,  though  not  a  good-looking  man,  was 
always  carefully  dressed.  He  regarded  it  as  due  to 
his  position,  and  as  no  one  else  in  the  village  except 
the  minister  and  doctor  were  scrupulous  on  this 
point,  he  inspired  a  certain  respect  on  this  very 
account.  So  now,  as  he  entered  the  store,  in  a  deco 
rous  suit  of  black,  with  a  stiff  standing-collar  rising 
above  a  glossy  satin  stock,  swinging  in  his  hand  a 
gold-headed  cane,  those  present  looked  towards  him 
with  considerable  deference. 

"  Well,  squire,"  said  Sam  Tilden,  u  you  met  with  a 
misfortun'  last  night." 

"•  Yes,"  said  the  squire,  deliberately  ;  "  there  ^ai 


34  SINK  OR  SWIM;  o/t, 

a  clean  sweep  of  the  old  house.  There  isn't  much 
left  of  it." 

"  Have  you  any  idea  who  sot  it  on  fire?  "  queried 
the  old  man. 

u  No,"  said  the  squire.  "  I  came  in  to  see  if  any 
one  here  could  throw  any  light  upon  it." 

There  was  one  present  who  could  have  thrown 
some  light  upon  it,  and  if  Squire  Turner  had  chanced 
to  look  behind  the  counter  he  might  have  noticed  a 
peculiar  expression  in  the  ej^es  of  Harry  Raymond, 
who  was  watching  him  fixedly.  The  fact  is,  Harry 
was  very  much  perplexed  in  his  mind  in  regard  to  the 
occurrence.  Why  a  gentleman  should  steal  out  of 
his  house  in  disguise  at  the  dead  of  night  to  set  fire 
to  his  own  property  was  a  question  which  was  in 
vested  with  not  a  little  mystery.  But  before  the  con 
versation  was  finished  he  began  to  understand  it 
better. 

u  It  must  have  been  sot  afire,"  continued  Sam 
Tilden,  positively.  "There  wasn't  nobody  livin'  in 
it." 

"  No  ;  it  had  been  empty  for  several  months." 

u  You  haint  got  no  suspicions,  I  s'pose?" 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  95 

"  Why,  no,"  said  the  squire,  slowly.  "  I  suppose 
it  must  have  been  somebody  that  had  a  grudge 
against  me,  and  took  this  way  to  gratify  it.  But 
who  it  may  be  I  haven't  an  idea." 

"I  reckon  it  was  insured?"  said  Sam,  interroga 
tively. 

u  Yes,"  said  the  squire,  cautiously ;  "  it  was  in 
sured." 

"  I  said  it  must  be,"  said  one,  who  had  spoken  at 
an  earlier  stage  in  the  conversation.  "  I  knew 
squire,  you  was  too  keerful  a  man  to  neglect  it." 

u  It  was  insured  when  it  came  into  my  hands," 
said  Squire  Turner ;  "  and  I  have  merely  kept  up  the 
payments." 

"  What  was  the  figure?" 

"  I  really  can't  be  quite  certain  till  I  have  looked 
at  the  policy,"  said  the  squire.  "I've  got  all  my 
houses  insured,  and  I  can't,  without  looking,  tell 
exactly  how  much  there  is  on  each." 

"  That's  the  advantage  of  owning  only  one  house," 
said  Doctor  Lamson,  as  he  stepped  in  for  a  moment, 
"  I'm  not  liable  to  make  a  mistake  about  my  insur- 


96  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

anee.     In   what   company  was  your   house  insured, 
Squire  Turner?" 

u  In  the  Pho3nix  Mutual,  I  believe.  By  the  way, 
Mr.  Porter,  you  may  send  up  a  ban-el  of  flour  to  my 
house.  I  believe  we  are  nearly  out." 

"  All  right,  squire.  It  shall  go  up  in  the  course  of 
the  day." 

"  Good-morning,  gentlemen,"  said  the  squire,  walk 
ing  out  of  the  store. 

"  I  guess  the  squire  won't  lose  a  cent,"  said  Sam 
Tilden,  after  he  went  out.  "  It's  likely  the  insurance 
money  will  pay  him  handsome  if  the  policy  was  took 
out  years  ago.  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  he's  glad  the 
old  house  is  gone.  It  was  awfully  out  of  repair." 

"  Very  likely  you're  right,"  said  John  Gay  lord, 
"  I'd  rather  have  the  money  than  the  house,  for  my 
part." 

For  the  first  time  a  light  came  to  Harry's  mind. 
He  felt  that  he  understood  the  whole  matter  now. 
Squire  Turner  didn't  want  the  house,  which  would 
require  considerable  outlay  to  make  it  habitable,  and 
he  did  want  the  money  for  which  it  was  insured.  As 
the  shortest  way  to  secure  this,  he  had  himself  set  th« 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE. 

house  on  fire.  Now,  no  doubt,  he  meant  to  come 
upon  the  company  for  the  amount  of  insurance 
money.  To  Harry's  mind  this  looked  like  a  swindle, 
like  obtaining  money  by  false  pretences.  Yet  here 
was  Squire  Turner,  the  richest  man  in  the  village, 
occupjnng  a  very  prominent  —  indeed  the  most 
prominent  —  position  in  town,  who  was  actual!)7 
going  to  carry  out  this  fraud.  Nobody  except  he 
knew  that  the  squire  was  himself  the  incendiary. 
What  ought  he  to  do  about  it  ?  Should  he  allow  the 
insurance  company  to  be  swindled  ? 

"Do  you  think  Squire  Turner  will  collect  his 
insurance  money,  Mr.  Gay  lord?"  he  asked,  of  the 
chief  clerk. 

"Do  I  think  so?  Of  course  he  will.  He'd  be  a 
fool  if  he  didn't." 

"  But  people  seem  to  think  that  the  house  wasn't 
worth  as  much  as  the  sum  it  was  insured  for." 

"  Very  likely  not ;  but  it  was  when  it  was  insured, 
and  as  the  payments  have  been  kept  up  regular,  the 
insurance  company  can't  complain  as  I  see." 
"  "Suppose    the   man    that   set   the   house  on   fire 
should  be  caught?" 


98  SINK  OR   SJnM;    OR, 

"  He'd  be  tried,  and  put  in  prison." 

This  gave  Harry  something  new  to  tbirk  of.  TV 
idea  of  Squire  Turner's  being  put  in  prison  was  ce»* 
tainly  a  strange  and  startling  one.  Probably  it  made 
a  difference  as  long  as  he  owned  the  house  himself 
Still,  if  he  claimed  the  insurance  money,  that  again 
made  a  difference.  Harry  felt  puzzled  again,  and  in 
thinking  over  the  matter  he  made  several  ludicrous 
mistakes,  among  others  asking  a  boy  who  came  in  for 
some  molasses  how  many  yards  he  would  have,  which 
led  to  a  mirthful  explosion  from  the  young  customer, 
who  looked  upon  it  as  a  brilliant  joke. 

Not  knowing  what  to  do,  Harry  did  nothing.  Two 
days  afterwards  our  hero  saw  the  following  placard 
posted  up  on  the  outside  of  the  store,  on  the  left-hand 
side  of  the  door :  — 

"  ONE  HUNDRED  DOLLARS  REWARD  !  —  For  infor 
mation  that  will  lead  to  the  discovery  of  the  incen 
diary  or  incendiaries  who  set  fire  to  the  old  Jackson 
farm-house,  belonging  to  the  subscriber,  which  was 
consumed  on  the  evening  of  the  llth  inst. 

"ElIHU   TURNEB." 


HAR  ft  }'    It  A  YM  OAD  .S    xKSOL  VR . 

Huny  read  thus  placard  with  interest. 

felil  could  claim  that  reward,"  he  said  to  Mmself ; 
u  but  would  Squire  Turner  think  my  information 
worth  paying  for  ?  * 


100  SINK  OR  SWIM; 


CHAPTER    XI. 

HARRT    MAKES    A    CALL    ON    BUSINESS. 

A  FEW  days  later  Harry  heard  that  Squire  Turner 
tiad  made  a  formal  claim  upon  the  Phoenix  Mutual 
Insurance  Company  for  two  thousand  dollars,  the 
ainoant  of  his  policy.  On  hearing  this,  he  no  longer 
hesitated  as  to  his  duty.  He  resolved  to  call  upon 
the  squire,  and  acquaint  him  with  his  information 
upon  the  subject.  Accordingly,  one  afternoon,  he 
went  up  to  Mr.  Porter,  and  asked  for  two  hours' 
time. 

44  What  for?  "  queried  the  store-keeper. 

44 1  want  to  call  on  Squire  Turner.  I  have  a  little 
business  with  him.'* 

The  store-keeper  naturally  supposed  that  the  busi 
ness  related  to  the  affairs  of  Harry's  mother,  and 
gave  permission,  as  business  was  generally  slack 
about  that  time  in  the  afternoon,  but  requested  Harry 
to  be  back  by  half-past  three. 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE,  101 

When  Hurry  got  started  on  his  way  to  the  residence 
of  the  squire,  he  began  to  feel  that  his  errand  was 
rather  a  delicate  one.  He,  a  mere  boy,  was  about  to 
intimate  to  a  gentleman  of  high  social  position  that 
he  was  a  rascal,  —  that  was  the  plain  English  of  it,  — 
and  was  conspiring  to  defraud  an  insurance  company 
out  of  a  considerable  sum  of  money.  It  was  rather  a 
bold  undertaking  for  a  boy  of  fifteen.  Perhaps  Squire 
Turner  might  be  so  incensed  as  to  kick  him  out  of 
the  house.  Harry  was  a  stout  boy,  but  still  of  course 
he  had  not  the  strength  to  cope  with  a  tall  man  like 
the  squire.  Had  he  been  a  timid  boy,  he  would  have 
shrunk  from  the  encounter.  But  Harry  was  not 
timid.  On  the  contrary,  he  was  physically  and  mor 
ally  brave,  as  anybody  who  knew  him  would  readily 
testify. 

ki  I'll  take  the  risk,"  he  said  to  himself,  firmly. 
"  I  don't  think  Squire  Turner  will  think  it  best  to 
attack  me." 

He  marched  manfully  up  the  front  steps,  and  rang 
the  bell.  His  summons  was  answered  by  a  servant. 

"  Is  the  squire  in?  "  he  asked. 


102  SINK  OR  SWIM;  on, 

"  Y  es,"  was  the  reply ;  and  the  girl  indicated  the 
door  of  the  "  office." 

Harry  knocked. 

44  Come  in,"  said  the  squire,  in  his  usual  grating 
roice. 

Harry  did  go  in. 

Squire  Turner  was  seated  at  his  desk.  He  had  a 
paper  before  him,  which  Harry  rightly  guessed  was 
the  fire  insurance  policy.  The  squire  had  been 
examining  it  with  considerable  complacency.  Two 
thousand  dollars  was  a  large  sum  even  to  him,  and 
certainly  a  very  handsome  consideration  for  the  old 
Jackson  farm-house,  which  with  the  land  around  it  he 
nad  got,  by  the  foreclosure  of  a  mortgage,  at  a  decided 
bargain.  How  the  company  had  ever  been  induced 
to  grant  so  large  a  sum  on  such  a  house,  even  in  its 
better  days,  was  a  wonder ;  but  insurance  companies 
sometimes  make  mistakes  as  well  as  private  indi 
viduals,  and  this  appeared  to  be  one  of  them. 

For  two  thousand  dollars,  or  a  little  more,  the 
jquire  had  been  thinking  he  could  build  a  nice  mod 
ern  house,  which  would  make  the  farm  salable  at  a 
considerably  higher  figure  than  before.  This  was  a 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  103 

very  pleasant  prospect,  of  course,  and  the  harsh 
lines  in  the  squire's  face  were  smoothed  out  to  a  cer 
tain  extent  as  he  thought  of  it. 

When  he  turned,  at  the  opening  of  the  door,  and 
saw  who  his  visitor  was,  he  naturally  concluded  that 
Harry  had  come  about  the  land  warrant. 

44  I  haven't  heard  anything  more  about  your 
mother's  Western  land,"  he  said.  "When  I  do  I 
will  let  you  know." 

44  Thank  you,"  said  Harry ;  "  but  that  is  not  what 
I  have  come  about." 

44  Very  well,"  said  the  squire,  a  little  surprised 
"  you  can  state  your  business." 

At  this  moment  James  Turner  came  in  hastily. 

"  Father,  I  want  a  dollar,"  he  said. 

"What  for?" 

44  To  buy  a  bat  and  ball." 

44  Wait  a  minute  or  two.     I  am  busy." 

James  looked  at  Harry  superciliously,  as  if  to  imply 
that  his  business  could  not  be  of  any  particulai 
importance,  and  took  a  seat. 

"  You  may  state  your  business,"  said  the  squire. 


10 1  KJNK  OR  SWIM;  OR* 

•*  I  beg  your  pardon/'  said  Harry,  looking  toward* 
James,  "  but  my  business  is  private." 

**  Perhaps  he  wants  to  complain  of  me,"  thought 
James,  4k  about  the  eggs.  If  he  does  he  won't  make 
much." 

" 1  am  not  aware  of  any  business  between  us,"  said 
the  squire,  with  dignity,  "  which  is  of  too  private 
a  nature  to  discuss  before  my  son.  I  will,  however, 
stretch  a  point,  to  oblige  you,  and  request  him  to 
leave  the  room." 

"  It  isn't  on  my  account,  but  on  yours,"  said  our 
hero,  bluntly,  "  that  I  wish  to  speak  privately." 

Squire  Turner  looked  at  Harry  in  cold  displeasure 
not  unmingled  with  surprise,  at  what  he  felt  to  be  a 
liberty. 

a That's  a  strange  remark,"  he  said.  "However, 
James,  you  may  leave  the  room.  Here  is  the 
money." 

"  You  have  offered  a  reward,  Squire  Turner,  for 
information  about  the  fire  the  other  evening."  said 
Harry,  when  they  were  alone,  thinking  it  best  to 
plunge  into  the  subject  at  once. 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  105 

**  Yes,  a  hundred  dollars'  reward,"  said  the  squire. 
"  Do  you  know  anything  about  it?*' 

"  I  do,"  said  HaiTy,  promptly. 

Squire  Turner  was  taken  by  surprise.  What  could 
Harry  know  about  the  fire  and  its  origin?  He  him 
self  knew  all  about  it ;  but  of  course  that  knowledge 
was  locked  up  in  his  own  breast.  In  offering  the 
reward  he  felt  sure  that  it  would  not  be  claimed,  and, 
under  the  circumstances,  he  felt  that  it  was  well  to 
offer  it.  It  would  impress  the  fire  company  favorably, 
as  showing  his  determination  to  ferret  out  the  secret 
incendiary,  and  therefore  he  had  forwarded  a  hand 
bill  containing  a  copy  of  his  offer  to  the  office  of  the 
Phoenix  Mutual,  together  with  his  claim  for  the 
amount  of  insurance  money. 

Harry's  prompt  answer  led  to  a  suspicion  in  the 
squire's  mind  that  our  hero  was  trying  to  get  the 
reward  on  false  pretences. 

"  The  money  will  only  be  given  for  positive  infor 
mation  leading  to  the  discovery  of  the  incendiary," 
he  said,  coldly. 

"  I  can  give  you  such  information,"  said  Harry, 
with  the  same  promptness  as  before. 


106  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OTJ, 

"  Perhaps,"  said  the  squire,  with  a  sneer,  "  you  can 
tell  who  set  the  house  on  fire." 

"  I  can,"  said  Harry,  distinctly. 

u  Who  did  it  ?  "  aaked  the  squire,  beginning  to  feel 
nervous. 

44  Squire  Turner,"  said  our  hero,  feeling  that  the 
crisis  had  come,  "  you  have  asked  me  the  question, 
and  of  course  you  wish  me  to  answer  it  truly." 

44  Of  course,"  muttered  the  squire,  whose  nervous 
ness  increased. 

44  Then,"  said  Harry,  firmly,  44  you  set  the  house  on 
fire  yourself!  " 

The  words  were  like  a  thunderbolt.  The  squire 
started  to  his  feet,  his  face  livid  with  fear,  and  then 
purple  with  excitement. 

44  How  dare  you  say  such  a  scandalous  thing?  "  he 
exclaimed. 

44  Because  you  expect  me  to  tell  the  truth,"  said 
Harry.  44  If  you  will  listen,  I  will  tell  you  how  I 
came  to  know." 

Hereupon  he  gave  an  account,  in  as  few  words  as 
possible,  of  his  midnight  visit  to  the  house  of  Doctor 
Lainson.  of  his  passing  near  the  house,  and  identify* 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  107 

mg  the  squire  in  the  act  of  setting  fire  to  some  shav 
ings.  Squire  Turner  listened,  evidently  in  a  state 
of  nervous  excitement,  fidgeting  about  in  a  manner 
which  indicated  his  mental  disturbance.  When 
Harry  had  finished,  he  spoke. 

"  This  is  the  most  impudent  fabrication  I  ever 
heard.  You  mean  to  charge  that  I  —  a  rich  man, 
and,  if  I  say  it  myself,  universally  respected  —  actu 
ally  set  fire  to  my  own  house  at  the  dead  of  night ! " 

"  I  do,"  said  Harry,  firmly. 

"  I  have  a  great  mind  to  kick  you  out  of  my 
louse,"  said  the  squire,  violently. 

"  I  don't  think  you  will  do  it,  Squire  Turner,"  said 
Harry,  who  did  not  show  a  trace  of  alarm. 

"Why  not?" 

"  Because  I  have  told  the  truth,  and  you  know  it," 
said  our  hero,  u  and  if  I  told  it  outside,  people  might 
believe  it." 

"What  would  your  word  weigh  against  mine?" 
said  the  squire,  but  his  tone  was  more  confident  than 
bis  feeling. 

44 1  never  told  a  lie,  as  everybody  in  the  village  will 


108  s&rx  OR  SWIM;  on* 

testify,"  said  Harry,  proudly.  "  Of  coarse  it  is  an 
object  for  you  to  deny  it." 

The  squire  began  to  see  that  the  overbearing  pol- 
ic}"  was  not  exactly  the  one  to  pursue  in  this  case. 
Harry  was  not  to  be  frightened  easily,  and  this  he 
realized.  Besides,  there  were  other  reasons  why  he 
did  not  wish  to  fall  out  with  our  hero.  Accordingly 
he  thought  proper  to  change  his  tone. 

"  My  young  friend,"  he  said,  with  a  very  signifi 
cant  change  of  tone  and  manner,  "  you  are  certainly 
under  a  very  strange  delusion.  I  should  be  angry, 
but  I  am  rather  disposed  to  be  amused.  You  would 
only  be  laughed  at  if  you  should  spread  abroad  such 
a  ridiculous  tale." 

"  It's  true,"  persisted  Harry. 

"  Consider  a  moment,"  said  Squire  Turner,  with 
commendable  patience,  u  the  nature  of  your  charge. 
It  is  rather  absurd  that  I  should  set  fire  to  my  own 
building,  —  isn't  it,  now  ?  What  possible  object 
could  I  have  in  so  doing?" 

"  The  insurance,"  briefly  answered  Harry. 

*«  Yes,"   said  Squire  Turner,  slowly ;   "  the  nous* 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RJBSOLFX.  109 

was  insured,  to  be  sure,  but  they  don't  Insure  to  the 
full  value." 

i4  Everybody  says  that  the  house  was  insured  for 
more  than  its  full  value." 

•"  Quite  a  mistake.  I  would  rather  have  the  house 
than  the  money.  In  fact,  it  was  quite  a  disappoint 
ment  having  the  house  burnt  down." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  said  Harry,  sturdily. 
"  All  I  know  is,  that  I  saw  you  setting  the  house  on 
fire  with  my  own  eyes." 

Perspiration  began  to  come  out  on  the  squire's 
brow.  He  had  never  anticipated  such  an  obstacle  to 
the  carrying  out  his  plans,  and  it  did  seem  a  little 
provoking  when  everything  had  seemed  so  favorable 
hitherto.  He  would  like  to  have  pitched  our  hero 
out  of  the  window,  or  kicked  him  out  of  the  house ; 
but  neither  course  seemed  quite  expedient.  So, 
though  boiling  over  with  inward  wrath  and  vexation, 
he  forced  himself  to  be  conciliatory. 

i4 1  have  no  doubt  you  think  you  are  right,"  he 
said ;  u  but  in  the  evening  one  is  easily  deceived 
about  faces.  I  was  fast  asleep  at  the  time,  and, 
indeed,  I  knew  nothing  of  the  fire  till  my  house- 


110  surf  on  SWIM;  on, 

keeper  came  and  knocked  at  my  door  when  it  was 
nearly  over." 

This  was  partly  true ;  but,  the  squire  didn't  say 
that  it  was  just  after  he  had  crept  stealthily  into  the 
house. 

"  Still,  as  I  am  a  friend  of  your  family,  and  inter 
ested  in  your  welfare,"  he  continued,  u  1  don't  mind 
giving  you  the  hundred  dollars,  not,  of  course,  as  a 
reward,  but  to  help  you  along.  Of  course  it  is  on 
condition  that  you  say  nothing  of  this  ridiculous 
story.  It  would  only  involve  you  in  trouble.  Come 
up  to-morrow  and  I'll  give  you  the  money." 

"  Squire  Turner,"  said  Harry,  promptly,  "  I  can 
not  accept  your  proposition,  or  money." 

14  Why  not?" 

"  Because  my  story,  whether  ridiculous  or  not,  is 
true.  I  don't  care  for  the  reward ;  I  didn't  come  up 
here  to  get  it." 

"  What  did  you  come  for?" 

I  came  to  prevent  your  coming  upon  the  insur 
ance  company  for  that  money.  If  you  will  promise 
not  to  ask  for  the  money,  I  will  never  say  a  word 
about  hov^  the  fire  came  about" 


a  AH  AY  RAYMOND'S  RRSVLVR.  Ill 

•'  I  can't  promise  that,"  said  the  squire ;  u  but 
before  claiming  the  insurance  I  will  let  you  know. 
In  the  mean  time  you  had  better  keep  the  story  to 
yourself/' 

u  I  will,"  said  Harry  •  ind,  rising,  he  left  the  room, 
leaving  the  squire  in  a  »v.  y  uncomfortable  and  unsat 
isfactory  state  of 


srzvjr  012  SWIM; 


CHAPTER    XII. 

tiAKTLET    BRANDON. 

WHEN  the  squire  was  left  alone,  be  began  rather 
ruefully  to  think  over  the  unexpected  turn  which 
affairs  had  taken.  If  he  had  disliked  Harry  before, 
he  hated  him  now.  He  felt  that  the  sturdy  determi 
nation  of  our  young  hero  was  likely  to  place  him  in  a 
rery  unpleasant  dilemma.  If  he  should  not  collect 
«;he  insurance  money,  the  house  would  bo  a  total  loss, 
and  this  would  be  very  provoking.  If  he  should  col 
lect  it,  he  had  every  reason  to  believe  that  Harry 
would  keep  his  word  ;  and,  as  he  was  a  boy  of  truth, 
many  would  no  doubt  believe  him,  and  the  insurance 
company  would  be  sure  to  stir  in  the  matter.  There 
was  another  consideration.  If  he  guiltily  let  the 
matter  pass,  and  failed  to  make  his  claim,  or  recalled 
it,  —  for  it  was  already  made.  —  it  would  excite  a 
great  deal  of  surprise,  and  perhaps  suspicion,  and 
thus  again  he  would  be  disagreeably  situated.  There 


ifARHY   IlATMOyD'S    RESOLD.  118 

seemed  to  be  only  a  choice  of  difficulties,  as  the 
squire  realized.  He  fervently  wished  now  that  he 
had  never  burnt  the  house  down.  But  it  was  done 
and  could  not  be  undone. 

"  I  wish  the  young  rascal  was  out  of  the  way,"  he 
muttered  to  himself. 

He  wished  it  the  more  because  Harrjr  stood  in  the 
way  of  another  plan  which  he  had  in  view,  namely, 
marrying  Mrs.  Raymond,  in  case  the  Western  prop 
erty  proved  as  valuable  as  he  anticipated.  He  had 
an  instinctive  feeling  that  our  hero  would  not  fancy 
him  for  a  step-father,  and  would  exert  all  his  influ 
ence  over  his  mother  to  prevent  her  accepting  him, 
even  if  she  might  otherwise  be  willing. 

44  Plague  take  the  young  whelp ! "  muttered  the 
squire.  '•  I  wish  he  was  in  Nova  Zembla,  or  some 
where  else,  where  he  would  never  come  back." 

His  uncomfortable  reflections  were  here  broken  In 
upon  by  the  entrance  of  the  servant. 

"  There's  a  man  at  the  door  wants  to  see  yoo, 
Squire  Turner." 

"Who  is  it?" 

"  It's  a  stranger/' 


114  SINK  on  SWIM;  0JK, 

44  Weil,  tell  him  to  come  in." 

The  invitation  was  duly  given,  and  directly  there 
entered  a  tall  man,  very  seedy  in  his  appearance, 
with  a  repulsive  aspect,  who  looked  as  if  the  world 
and  he  had  not  been  on  good  terms  for  some  time. 
He  was  probably  about  the  same  age  as  Squire  Tur 
ner,  —  that  is,  fifty,  —  bat  looked  still  older,  proba 
bly  in  consequence  of  the  life  he  had  led. 

Squire  Turner  looked  at  the  intruder  in  surprise. 

"How  do  you  do,  Squire  Turner?"  said  the 
stranger,  familiarly. 

"  You  have  the  advantage  of  me,"  said  the  squire, 
coldly. 

"  Yet  you  used  to  know  me  well,"  was  the  reply, 
as  the  visitor  sat  down  uninvited. 

"I  dm't  know  you  now.  Who  are  you?"  de 
manded  Squire  Turner,  who  didn't  feel  it  necessary 
to  use  much  ceremony  with  a  man  so  evidently  under 
the  frowns  of  fortune. 

"  1  am  your  cousin,  Hartley  Brandon." 

Squire  Turner  started. 

" Hartley  Brandon!"  he  repeated,  in  amazement 
*'  I  thought  you  were  dead  years  ago." 


fjA  RR  y  RA  YMOND'S  RE  SOL  VE,  \  1 5 

44  And  wished  it,  no  doubt,"  said  the  other,  with  a 
laugh.  "  Confess  now  you  are  not  very  glad  to  see 
me/' 

u  I  am  not  very  glad  to  see  you,  as  you  are  sharp 
enough  to  guess,"  said  the  squire,  with  a  sneer. 
"  You  are  not  a  relative  to  be  proud  of." 

u  True  enough,"  said  the  other.  "  I  see  you  are 
not  afraid  of  hurting  my  feelings.  However,  I've 
had  so  many  hard  rubs  that  my  feelings  have  got 
worn  off,  if  I  ever  had  any." 

"  What  is  your  object  in  coming  down  here,  for  I 
suppose  you  have  an  object  ?  " 

"  Suppose  I  say  that  it  is  for  the  sake  of  seeing 
about  the  only  relative  I  have  in  the  world.  There's 
something  in  that,  you  know." 

u  Not  in  this  case.  We  may  be  cousins,  but  we 
are  not  friends,  and  never  will  be." 

kt  Come,  that's  frank,  —  true,  too,  I  dare  say,"  said 
Hartley  Brandon,  who  didn't  appear  by  any  means 
disturbed  at  the  coldness  of  the  squire.  "  Well,  as 
you  say,  it  wasn't  that.  Blood's  thicker  than  water, 
they  say,  but  there  are  plenty  of  people  I  like  bettej 
than  you,  who  are  my  cousin." 


116  SINK  OR  swrn;  on, 

"  That  is  a  matter  of  perfect  indifference  to  me," 
said  the  squire,  coldly.  "  I  don't  want  to  know  what 
your  object  is  not,  but  what  it  is.'* 

" 1  am  rather  seedy,  as  you  see." 

4  So  it  appears." 

"  This  shabby  suit,  with  half  a  dollar,  constitutes 
all  my  worldly  possessions." 

"  Supposing  it  to  be  so,  what  is  that  to  me?" 

44  Can't  you  help  me  a  little?" 

The  squire's  mouth  tightened,  as  it  always  did 
when  there  was  an  attack  on  his  purse-strings.  He 
seldom  gave  away  money,  unless  he  thought  it  would 
nelp  him  in  some  way,  and  he  felt  even  more  than 
usually  unwilling  to  do  so  at  a  time  when,  owing  to 
Harry's  obduracy,  he  was  threatened  with  a  serious 
loss.  No  poorer  time  could  have  been  selected  by 
his  cousin  for  his  application  than  this. 

44  I  can  do  nothing  for  you,"  he  said,  coldly. 

".I  don't  mean  you  to  give  me  money,"  said  Bran 
don.  u  I  only  want  an  advance  of  thirty  o^  forty 
dollars,  which  I  will  faithfully  repay  you  witb  inter* 
est." 

Squire  Turner  laughed  scornfully. 


tsAKRT    RAYMONDS    RESOLVE.  11? 

"  What  security  can  you  offer  ?  **  be  asked. 

u  None  at  all,  except  my  word." 

"  That  isn't  satisfactory." 

u  I  thought  you'd  say  so ;  but  listen,  and  I  will 
tell  you  how  the  matter  stands.  First,  I  suppose 
you  would  like  to  know  how  I  have  been  employed 
for  the  last  twenty  odd  years." 

"  You  may  tell  or  not,  just  as  you  like.  I  feel  no 
particular  interest  in  the  matter." 

"I  have  followed  the  sea,  —  I  see  you  are  sur 
prised  ;  but  this  is  the  way  it  happened.  Twenty 
five  years  since,  I  found  myself  high  and  dry  in  New 
York,  with  no  resources,  and  nobody  to  look  to  for 
help.  In  my  distress  I  fell  in  with  a  sailor,  who 
treated  me  kindly,  and  proposed  to  me  to  adopt  his 
profession.  It  was  not  particularly  to  my  taste,  and 
I  knew  it  was  rather  late  in  life  to  begin ;  but  I  had 
no  other  resource,  and  I  allowed  myself  to  be  per 
suaded.  I  had  a  hard  time  of  it  at  first,  as  you  may 
suppose,  but  after  a  while  I  became  acquainted  with 
my  duties,  and  turned  out  a  very  fair  sailor.  Being 
possessed  of  a  better  education  than  belongs  to  the 
generality  of  seamen,  I  found  myself  able  to  rise, 


1  IS 


SIITK  OK  sirzif;  o/t, 


On  the  second  voyage,  I  ih^pped  third  mate.  Then  I 
rose  to  second  mate ;  finally  to  first  mate.  I  might 
have  become  captain  if  I  had  been  a  little  more 
steady,  but  a  fondness  for  drink  stood  in  the  way  of 
my  advancement." 

"  So  you  have  been  a  sailor  for  twenty-five 
years." 

"  Yes." 

"  It  was  no  doubt  the  best  thing  you  could  do. 
You  don't  think  of  giving  it  up?  " 

"  No." 

"  Then  I  don't  see  what  I  can  do  for  you." 

"  I've  a  chance  to  sail  as  mate  next  week  in  the 
*hip  Sea  Eagle  bound  for  China." 

"  Why  don't  you  go,  then?" 

u  Because  there's  a  trifle  in  the  way.  I  owe 
twenty-five  dollars  in  New  York,  and  if  I  don't  pay 
it  up  square  the  party'U  put  a  spoke  in  my  wheel,  and 
prevent  my  getting  the  situation. 

"  So  you  want  me  to  advance  you  the  necessary 
money  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I'll  pay  you  back  at  the  end  of  the  voyage." 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  119 

"  Do  you  know  the  captain  under  whom  you  are 
to  sail  ?  "  asked  the  squire,  thoughtfully. 

"  Yes,  a  little." 

"  What  sort  of  a  man  is  he?" 

il  Oh,  an  average  sort  of  a  man,  —  rather  a  Tartar, 
so  I  hear  from  some  who  have  sailed  under  him.  He 
likes  his  ease,  and  leaves  the  vessel  pretty  much  in 
the  hands  of  his  first  officer." 

A  train  of  reflection  had  been  started  in  the 
squire's  mind  by  the  communication  of  his  kinsman. 
He  wanted  to  be  rid  of  Harry  Raymond.  Why 
could  he  not  arrange  with  Hartley  Brandon  to 
smuggle  him  off  to  sea,  where  he  would  be  out  of 
the  way  of  interfering  with  his  plans  ?  It  might  be 
difficult  to  manage,  but  no  doubt  some  way  would 
suggest  itself.  As  for  Brandon,  there  was  no  fear 
of  his  refusing.  He  was  not  troubled  with  scruples, 
and  a  small  sum  of  money  would  buy  his  co-opera 
tion. 

Then,  again,  the  sea  was  a  treacherous  element. 
Accidents  were  frequent.  Should  Harry  once  em 
bark  on  its  smooth  but  fickle  expanse,  he  might 
never  come  back  again,  or,  if  he  did,  it  might  be  to 


120  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

find  him,  the  squire,  his  mother's  second  husband* 
and  the  relationship  would  seal  his  lips  from  disclos 
ing  the  secret  of  which  he  had  become  possessed. 

All  these  thoughts  passed  through  the  squire's 
mind  much  more  quickly  than  I  have  been  able  to 
state  them.  The  plan  which  has  been  briefly 
sketched  seemed  the  only  way  out  of  the  labyrinth 
in  which  he  had  become  involved,  and  he  resolved 
to  make  a  trial  of  it. 

"  Well,  will  you  help  me?"  asked  Brandon,  grow 
ing  Impatient  of  his  kinsman's  silence. 

"  I  will,"  answered  the  squire,  "  upon  condi 
tions." 

"  Name  them,"  said  Brandon,  brightcrJ-jg  up. 


HARKf  RAYMOND'S   RESOLPTS.  121 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

A    LETTER    FROM   NEW   YORK. 

IT  is  um**cessary  to  detail  the  conversation  which 
took  place  between  Squire  Turner  and  Hartley  Bran 
don,  since  the  nature  of  it  may  be  guessed  from  the 
events  which  followed.  As  might  be  expected.  Bran* 
ion  was  by  no  means  squeamish,  and  made  no  objec 
tion  to  what  was  proposed.  Indeed,  he  made  an 
occasional  suggestion  which  was  adopted  by  his  kins 
man.  The  squire  did  not,  of  course,  think  it  politic 
to  reveal  the  real  causes  of  his  hostility  to  Harry, 
nor  of  the  reasons  which  he  had  for  desiring  that  the 
boy  should  be  out  of  the  way. 

He  was  too  cautious  a  man  for  this,  and  moreover 
had  too  little  confidence  in  Brandon,  whom  he  re 
garded  as  an  unprincipled  fellow,  being  in  this 
opinion  not  far  from  right.  He  merely  said  that  he 
had  reasons  for  wishing  Harry  out  of  the  way,  and 
expressed  his  willingness,  should  matters  turn  out 


122  SIHK  OR  SWIAT;  CR, 

satisfactorily,  not  only  to  make  Hartley  a  present 
advance  of  fifty  dollars,  but  to  pay  him  ovei  a  further 
sum  of  five  hundred  when  the  affair  was  over,  be 
sides  what  might  be  needed  for  preliminary  ex 
penses. 

To  the  shiftless  vagabond,  who  had  been  tossing 
about  the  ocean  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  five  hun 
dred  dollars  was  a  large  sum,  though  we  may  con 
sider  it  a  trifling  compensation  for  an  act  of  villany. 
So  he  readily  promised  the  squire  his  co-operation. 

"  It  is  best  that  you  should  leave  Vernon  at  once," 
said  the  squire,  when  the  arrangements  between  them 
were  concluded. 

41  Why?"  asked  Brandon,  rather  disappointed,  for 
he  fully  expected  to  be  the  squire's  guest  till  the  next 
day. 

44  Because  it  won't  do  for  you  to  be  seen  by  the 
boy.  He  would  recognize  you  when  you  meet  in  the 
city,  and  this  might  lead  him  to  suspect  something 
wrong." 

44  What  do  you  want  me  to  do? " 

"  I  will  have  my  horse  harnessed  to  the  carryall, 


&ARRT  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  123 

and    will   take   you  over   to   the  Wrexham   station, 
where  you  can  take  the  cars  for  the  city." 

•'  What  time  do  the  cars  start?  " 

u  In  a  couple  of  hours.     We  have  no  time  to  lose." 

"  Have  you  got  anything  eatable  in  the  house? 
I'm  almost  famished.  Haven't  eaten  anything  since 
early  this  morning." 

"  I  will  look  to  that.  Stay  here,  or  rather  I  will 
.eacl  the  way  upstairs.  Some  one  might  be  in. 
How  will  some  beefsteak  suit  you  ?  " 

"  Just  the  thing.  Only  let  there  be  plenty  of  it 
T've  got  a  famous  appetite." 

Brandon  was  conducted  upstairs  to  a  back  room 
on  the  second  floor,  where  the  squire  suggested  that 
he  might  as  well  fill  up  a  portion  of  the  time  till 
lunch  by  brushing  his  clothes,  and  performing  ablu 
tions  which  appeared  to  be  needful.  He  then  went 
downstairs  to  give  the  necessary  directions  to  Mrs, 
Murray. 

a  Broil  some  beefsteak  and  plenty  of  it,"  said  the 
squire.  "  You  may  boil  two  or  three  eggs  also,  and 
send  up  a  loaf  of  bread  and  some  butter." 


124  SINK  on  SWIM;  OR. 

"Where  shall  I  set  the  table?"  asked  Mrs.  Mur 
ray. 

"  Never  mind  about  a  table.  You  can  carry  all 
up  on  a  waiter  to  the  back  chamber  when  ready." 

Seeing  that  the  house-keeper  looked  surprise/  ,  he 
added,  in  rather  an  embarrassed  way  :  — 

"  The  fact  is,  the  man  was  a  school-mate  of  i^ine, 
who  hasn't  turned  out  very  well.  Out  of  pity,  I  am 
going  to  help  him  a  little,  but  don't  care  about  his 
being  seen  in  my  house." 

This  seemed  plausible  enough,  particularly  when 
Mrs.  Murray  saw  Brandon,  who  certainly  looked 
very  much  like  one  who  had  not  turned  out  very 
well.  The  rapid  manner  in  which  the  abundant 
meal  melted  away  under  his  vigorous  attacks  was 
certainly  a  tribute  to  the  culinary  skill  of  the  house 
keeper,  who  was  led  to  form  a  more  favorable  esti 
mate  of  the  shabby  stranger  in  consequence. 

In  a  little  more  than  half  an  hour  Squire  Turner 
was  on  his  way  to  Wrexham,  Brandon  occupying  a 
back  seat.  They  reached  the  depot  ten  minutes 
before  the  train  arrived,  so  that  there  was  ample 
to  buy  a  ticket. 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE,  12.* 

So  the  train  was  set  in  motion  that  was  to  lead 
to  important  changes  in  the  life  of  our  young  hero. 
These  it  shall  be  our  task  gradually  to  unfold,  and 
set  on  record. 

Four  days  passed  quietly.  The  villagers  had 
ceased  to  talk  of  the  fire,  as  another  exciting  occur 
rence  had  succeeded.  Deacon  Watson  had  been 
thrown  out  of  his  carriage  and  broken  his  leg,  and 
the  details  of  this  accident  were  still  fresh  in  the 
mouths  of  all. 

Harry  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  his  way  in  his 
new  position,  trying  to  make  himself  as  useful  as 
possible,  and  succeeding  to  the  satisfaction  of  his 
employer.  Always  prompt,  always  reliable,  Mr. 
Porter  felt  that  in  spite  of  his  youth  he  fully  filled 
the  place  of  Alfred  Harper,  whose  temporary  loss  he 
now  regarded  with  equanimity. 

Harry  was  weighing  some  sugar  for  a  customer 
one  afternoon  when  John  Gaylord,  who  had  just  got 
through  sorting  the  mail,  said  to  him,  "  Here's  a 
'etter  for  your  mother,  mailed  at  New  York." 

"  Let  me  see  it,"  said  Harry,  who  felt  some  curl- 


126  SINK  OR  SWTM;  OA-, 

osity  as  to  who  might  have  written  to  his  incther,  foi 
ner  correspondence  was  very  limited. 

He  took  the  letter  in  his  hand,  and  looked  at  the 
direction.  It  was  in  a  dashing  business-hand,  quite 
unknown  to  him,  and  revealed  nothing. 

44  I  will  take  it  home  when  I  go  to  supper,"  he 
said. 

"  Has  your  mother  got  friends  in  New  York'"' 
asked  Gaylord. 

"  Not  that  I  know  of.  I  don't  recognize  the  hand 
writing." 

u  Maybe  it's  a  lawyer's  letter,  informing  her  of  a 
legacy,"  said  the  senior  clerk,  jocosely. 

44  Very  probable,"  said  Harry,  smiling. 

It  was  already  the  hour  when  he  usually  returned 
for  supper.  Accordingly  he  put  on  his  cap  and  went 
out  of  the  store.  Being  a  little  curious  as  to  the 
contents  of  the  letter,  he  hastened  his  steps,  and 
entered  the  house  out  of  breath. 

44  You're  a  little  early,"  said  his  mother.  u  Supper 
isn't  quite  ready." 

"  I  hurried,  because  a  letter  came  by  this  after- 
noon's  mail.  It's  mailed  at  New  York." 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  127 

**  New  York  !  "  repeated  Mrs.  Raymond,  in  Bur- 
prise .  u  Who  can  it  be  from  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.     Haven't  you  any  friends  thei  e  ?  " 

kk  Not  that  I  know  of.  Harry7,  you  may  take  up 
the  tea  and  toast,  while  I  am  reading  the  letter." 

She  tore  open  the  envelope,  and  first,  as  was  natu 
ral,  turned  to  the  bottom  of  the  second  page,  and 
read  the  name  appended  to  the  letter. 

tw  Lemuel  Fairchild !  "  she  repeated,  thoughtfully. 
"  I  don't  recall  the  name.*' 

"Read  it  aloud,  mother,"  said  Harry. 

She  complied  with  his  request. 

This  is  the  way  the  letter  read  :  — 

"No.— NASSAU  STREET,  BOOM  7. 

NEW  YORK,  Nor.  7,  1§— . 

"  DEAR  MADAM:  —  Though  personally  a  stranger 
to  you,  I  knew  your  husband  well,  and  have  heard 
with  the  deepest  regret  of  his  sad  fate.  We  had  not 
met  for  years,  but  I  have  always  cherished  a  warm  re 
gard  for  him,  though  on  account  of  the  absorption  of 
iny  time  by  important  business  1  have  not  been  able 
to  keep  up  a  correspondence  with  him.  But,  without 
further  preface,  I  will  come  to  my  object  in  writing. 


128  SINK  on  SWIM;  o^ 

"  If  1  remember  rightly,  you  have  a  son  who  musl 
now  be  a  boy  of  sixteen  or  thereabouts.  No  doubt 
you  are  anxious  to  get  him  into  some  kind  of 
employment.  In  the  country  I  am  aware  desirable 
opportunities  are  rare,  and  I  presume  you  are  at  a 
loss  how  to  secure  him  one.  Now,  I  am  desirous  of 
taking  a  boy,  and  training  him  in  my  own  business. 
Having  no  one  in  view,  it  has  occurred  to  me  that  it 
might  be  a  pleasant  arrangement  for  you  as  well  as 
for  me,  if  I  should  take  you»  son.  1  may  add  thai 
I  am  a  commission  merchant ,  doing  a  large  business. 
Can  you  send  him  up  at  once  ?  As  to  wages,  I  will 
give  him  twelve  dollars  a  week  at  first.  He  will 
not  earn  half  that,  but  I  shall  feel  that,  in  overpay 
ing  him,  I  shall  be  assisting  the  widow  and  son 
of  my  old  friend. 

"  Yours  very  truly, 

44  LEMUEL  FAracHTLD. 

"  If  you  accept  my  proposal,  I  should  like  to  see 
your  son  at  my  office  some  time  Monday." 

Mrs.  Raymond  looked  at  Harry  in  perplexity, 
after  finishing  the  letter. 


HARRY   RAYMONDS    RESOLVE.  I  if! 

"Lemuel  Fairchihl !  "  she  repeated.  "It,,  ia 
strange  I  never  heard  your  father  speak  of  him." 

u  Perhaps  he  may  have  done  so,  and  you  do  not 
recall  the  name." 

u  It  may  be  so,"  said  Mrs.  Raymond,  slowly,  "  but 
I  do  not  think  so." 

"  At  any  rate/'  said  Harry,  u  it's  a  splendid  offer. 
Think  of  earning  twelve  dollars  a  week,  to  begin 
with,  in  New  York  !  " 

u  Yes,  it's  a  good  offer,  but  how  can  I  spare  you?" 
said  his  mother,  sorrowfully.  kt  It  will  be  very  lonely 
without  you.  Don't  you  think  you  had  better 
remain  in  Mr.  Porter's  store?" 

k4That  will  only  be  for  a  few  weeks,  you  know, 
mother.  Alfred  Harper  will  be  getting  well  before 
long,  and  then  I  shall  be  out  of  a  situation.  I  think 
we  had  better  say  yes." 

Harry's  ambition  was  fired  by  the  prospect  of  a 
place  in  the  city.  Like  many  another  country  boy 
he  had  the  most  splendid  visions  of  what  city  life 
was.  By  the  side  of  a  position  in  a  city  office  his 
present  situation  looked  mean  and  contemptible. 
Even  had  the  pay  been  the  same,  he  would  have 

9 


130  UINK   OR    SWHf;    O/J, 

preferred  Now  York  to  Vernon ;  but  the  fact  that 
the  salary  offered  in  the  city  was  just  double  was 
an  additional  inducement.  Why.  John  Gay  lord, 
Mr.  Porter's  chief  salesman,  though  already  twenty- 
five  years  of  age,  and  with  several  years*  experience 
as  clerk,  received  just  that,  and  no  more.  That 
Harry  should  be  offered  the  same  salary  at  fifteen 
was  indeed  a  compliment. 

"  I  expect  board  is  higher  in  the  city/'  said  Mrs. 
Raymond. 

"  Yes,  I  suppOvse  it  is ;  but  next  year  I  shall 
probably  have  my  pay  raised.  Who  knows  but 
I  may  get  into  the  firm  some  day,"  said  Harry, 
glowing  with  enthusiasm,  "  and  make  money  hand 
over  hand?  Then  I  can  take  a  nice  house  in  the 
city,  and  you  and  Katy  can  come  up  and  live  with 
me.  Won't  that  be  nice  ? " 

Mrs.  Raymond  confessed  that  it  would  be  nice. 
Still  she  did  not  like  to  let  Harry  go.  But  he 
rradually  won  her  to  his  side,  and  she  admitted  that 
there  was  something  in  his  arguments.  So,  before 
he  went  back  to  the  store,  it  was  virtually  agreed 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  131 

between    them   that   the    offer   was   not   one   to   be 
refused. 

"  Let  me  take  the  letter,  mother,'*  said  Harry. 
"  I  would  like  to  show  it  to  Mr  Gay  lord  and  Mr, 
Porter." 


132  SINK  OR  SWIM; 


CHAPTER     XIV. 

HARRY    ARRIVES    IN    THE    CITY. 

On  going  back  to  the  store,  I-Iarry  showed  the 
senior  salesman  the  letter  his  mother  had  received. 

Now  John  Gaylord  was  in  the  main  a  good- 
natured  young  man.  but  he  was  not  without  the 
failings  incident  to  humanity.  It  happened  that  he 
had  himself  been  secretly  desirous  of  going  to  the 
city,  and  obtaining  some  position  which  promised 
better  than  that  of  chief  salesman  in  a  eountry 
store.  But  he  had  no  friends  to  help  him  in  New 
York,  and  he  was  wise  enough  to  feel  that  it  would 
not  be  expedient  to  throw  up  a  fair  place  in  the 
country  for  the  uncertain  prospect  of  one  in  the 
city.  But,  for  all  that,  he  used  to  think  oftentimes 
that  his  business  abilities  deserved  something  better 
than  weighing  out  tea  and  sugar  in  small  quantities 
for  country  customers.  So  when  he  learned  that 
Fliirrv  Rayrmvui,  «r>  inexperienced  boy,  had  received 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  183 

an  offer  which  he  would  gladly  have  accepted  him 
self,  he  naturally  felt  a  little  envious,  and  provoked 
with  Harry  for  his  good  fortune. 

uWhat  do  you  think  of  it,  Mr.  Gay  lord?"  asked 
Harry. 

"  I  think  you  had  better  stay  where  you  are,"  was 
the  unsatisfactory  reply. 

This  was  rather  a  damper  to  Harry,  who  had 
expected  to  be  congratulated. 

"Why?"  he  asked. 

"  Because  you're  a  mere  boy,  and  can't  expect  to 
earn  twelve  dollars  a  week." 

"  No,  I  don't  suppose  I  shall  at  first ;  but  then, 
you  see,  Mr.  Fairchild  was  a  friend  of  my  father." 

uBut,  when  he  finds  that  you  don't  earn  your 
money,  he'll  get  dissatisfied  with  you,  and  send  you 
home." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  said  Harry,  stoutly. 
"  I  mean  to  do  my  best." 

u  You  have  no  experience." 

"  I  shall  get  it." 

"Oh,  well,  suit  yourself,"   said  the  young  man; 


134  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

k  only  if  it  turns  out  as  I  tell  you,  you  mustn't  be 
surprised. " 

Harry  made  no  reply,  being  rather  offended  at 
the  manner  in  which  his  communication  had  been 
received.  He  did  not  suspect  that  John  Gaylord 
was  secretly  envying  him  all  the  while,  and  contrast 
ing  his  own  poor  prospects  very  discontentedly  with 
Harry's.  But  he  was  not  in  the  least  discouraged. 
He  had  faith  in  himself,  and  felt  sure  that  if  he  did 
his  best,  as  he  meant  to,  he  should  get  on  well 
enough.  He  gave  Mr.  Porter  notice  that  he  should 
leave  him  at  the  end  of  the  week.  The  latter 
congratulated  him  on  his  good  prospects,  and 
expressed  satisfaction  with  his  services  while  in 
his  employ. 

The  next  day,  as  if  by  accident,  Squire  Turner 
entered  the  store,  and,  advancing  to  the  counter 
behind  which  Harry  was  standing,  said  with  unusual 
graciousness : — 

"Well,  my  young  friend,  how  are  you  getting 
in?" 

"  Very  well,  thank  you,  sir,"  said  Harry. 


••^;i./?y  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  135 

u  I  think  Mr.  Porter  may  find  it  for  his  interest 
to  engage  you  permanently." 

"I  have  accepted  another  situation,"  said  our 
hero,  with  a  little  excusable  importance. 

"  Indeed !  "  said  the  squire,  in  assumed  surprise. 
"In  Vernon?" 

"  No,  sir,  in  New  York/' 

"  I  am  surprised  to  hear  it.  It  is  not  easy  to 
obtain  a  situation  in  the  city.  How  did  you  hear 
of  it?" 

u  A  friend  of  my  father's,  a  commission  merchant 
in  Nassau  Street,  wrote  to  my  mother,  yesterday, 
offering  it  to  me." 

"  What  is  his  name?     I  may  know  him." 

"  Lemuel  Fail-child." 

"  Lemuel  Fairchild,"  repeated  the  squire,  slowly. 
"  I  don't  recognize  the  name.  So  you  are  going  to 
accept  it?" 

"  Yes,  I  am  going  up  Monday  morning.  I  am  to 
have  twelve  dollars  a  week." 

"An  excellent  salary.  Well,  I  am  glad  to  heai 
you  are  so  fortunate.  When  I  go  up  to  the  city ,  J 


I3t?  ;?iarjr  OR  smM;  OR, 

will  call  and  see  how  you  are  getting  along. 
What  is  the  number?" 

Harry  gave  the  address,  which  the  squire  copied 
down  in  his  pocket-book,  and  with  a  friendly  saluta 
tion  left  the  store.  He  had  found  out  what  he 
wanted  to  know,  that  the  decoy  letter  had  been 
received,  and  that  the  plan  was  likely  to  work  well. 

"  He  has  swallowed  the  bait,"  he  said  to  himself, 
with  satisfaction.  "  I  hope  the  rest  of  the  plan  will 
work  as  well.  I  shall  not  dare  to  draw  my  insurance 
money  till  he  is  out  of  the  way." 

The  cordial  manner  of  the  squire  impressed  Harry 
rather  favorably.  In  fact,  he  felt  very  much  puzzled 
about-  him.  It  seemed  hard  to  believe  that  he  was 
meditating  a  fraud  upon  the  insurance  company. 
But,  as  might  be  expected,  his  own  affairs  occupied 
the  greater  portion  of  his  thoughts,  which  was  just 
what  Squire  Turner  wished.  The  change  in  his 
mode  of  life  was  so  great  and  so  important  that  he 
could  scarcely  think  of  anything  else.  Besides, 
there  were  preparations  to  be  made  for  his  depart- 
ture.  He  needed  a  new  suit  of  clothes.  It  would 
be  inconvenient  to  pay  for  them  now,  but  the  village 


HARRY   RAYMOND'S    RESOLVE,  137 

tailor  readily  promised  to  give  him  a  four  weeks' 
credit  until  he  should  be  able  to  pay  him  out  of 
his  wages  in  his  new  place.  This  suit  was  to  cost 
twenty  dollars,  and  so  good  progress  was  made  in 
getting  it  ready  that  Harry  was  able  to  wear  it  on 
Sunday  to  church,  where  he  received  the  congratula 
tions  of  his  friends  and  school-mates. 

As  Harry  had  never  been  to  New  York,  he  was 
placed  under  the  care  of  a  gentleman  who  proposed 
going  to  the  city  on  Monday. 

lie  was  up  bright  arid  early,  having  slept  little,  if 
the  truth  must  be  told,  on  account  of  the  excitement 
which  he  felt.  Mis  mother  was  up,  of  course,  also, 
niid  prepared  a  better  breakfast  than  usual. 

"•  I  don't  know  how  J  shall  get  along  without  you, 
Harry,"  she  said,  despondently.  *•  The  house  will  be 
lonely." 

"  Oh,  I'll  come  home  soon  to  pass  Sunday,  mother," 
said  Harry.  "  Besides,  you  shall  hear  from  me  ;  I'll 
write  twice  a  week,  regularly.  Then  you'll  know  Fm 
doing  well." 

"  I'm  afraid  you'll  get  run  over  in  the  streets ;  they 
are  so  crowded  with  wagons." 


1 58  SINK  OR  SWIM;  on, 

Harry  only  laughed  at  this. 

"  Don't  fear,"  he  said.  "  I'm  old  enough  to  take 
care  of  myself.  You  forget  how  old  I  am,  mother." 

"  You're  only  fifteen." 

44  A  boy  of  fifteen  ought  to  be  smart  enough  not  to 
get  run  over.  You  see,  mother,  you're  a  woman,  and 
don't  know  much  about  boys.  I'll  do  well  enough, 
and  you'll  feel  better  about  my  going  away,  soon." 

What  Harry  said  was  partly  true.  If  the  situation 
tfhich  he  intended  to  fill  had  been  a  genuine 
one,  his  pluck  and  good  principle  would  have  been 
likely  to  insure  his  success.  But  he  little  knew  what 
a  plot  had  been  formed  against  him,  and  what  a 
series  of  adventures  lay  before  him  ere  he  would 
again  see  his  mother  and  home.  Could  he  have  fore 
seen  all  this,  brave  as  he  was,  he  might  well  have 
quailed.  But  he  supposed  that  all  was  fair  and 
aboveboard,  and  that  he  would  have  nothing  to 
encounter  beyond  the  usual  experiences  of  a  boy  in  a 
city  counting-room. 

Time  never  waits  for  any  one,  and  the  hour  of 
parting  came.  Harry  hastily  embraced  his  mother 
and  little  sister,  and  with  a  certain  swelling  of  the 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  13$ 

heart  which  he  could  not  quite  repress,  hurried  out 
into  the  road  to  the  carriage  which  was  to  convey  him 
to  the  railroad  station. 

Mr.  Falkland,  his  companion,  was  not  a  resident 
of  Vernon,  but  had  visited  the  place  on  business,  and 
had  readily  undertaken  to  act  as  Harry's  guardian  as 
far  as  the  city.  He  spoke  civilly  to  our  hero,  and 
asked  him  how  he  expected  to  like  the  city.  But 
after  getting  into  the  cars,  he  took  out  a  book  and 
began  to  read.  Harry  took  a  seat  behind,  where  he 
aould  look  out  of  the  window,  and  was  sufficiently 
interested  in  watching  the  varied  scenery  through 
which  he  was  whirled  rapidly  by  the  cars.  His 
spirits  began  to  rise  once  more,  and  bright  dreams 
of  the  success  he  was  going  to  achieve  in  the  city 
swept  across  his  mental  vision.  He  was  undecided 
whether,  when  he  got  rich,  which  he  confidently 
hoped  to  be  at  twenty-five,  he  would  install  his 
mother  in  a  nice  house  in  the  city,  or  build  a  house 
for  her  in  Vernon,  say  as  large  as  Squire  Turner's. 
However,  as  he  wisely  concluded,  there  was  no  im 
mediate  necessity  for  deciding  about  this.  He  might 
leave  it  subject  to  further  reflection. 


140  siyx  OR  SWIM;  OJK. 

So  the  train  whirled  on  at  the  rate  of  twenty-five 
miles  an  hour,  and  in  about  two  hours  he  found  the 
houses  growing  more  and  more  numerous,  until  the 
cars  came  to  a  final  pause  in  the  New  York  depot. 

Mr.  Falkland  put  his  book  into  his  carpet-bag. 

"  You  have  never  been  in  the  city  before,  I  think," 
he  said. 

"No,  sir." 

"  Then,  of  course,  you  don't  know  the  way  ary 
where.     I'll  go  with  you  at  once  to  Nassau  Street 
(that's  the  place,  I  believe),  and  then  you'll  be  aK 
right." 

Harry  was  a  little  bewildered  by  the  strangeness 
and  novelty  of  the  scenes  to  which  he  was  introduced. 
So  this  was  the  great  city  of  which  he  had  heard  so 
much.  It  was  here  that  he  was  to  work  his  way. 
Most  boys  would  have  felt  a  momentary  depression 
and  loss  of  confidence,  but  Harry  had  a  good  deal  of 
faith  and  courage. 

"  Plenty  of  men  succeed  here,"  he  said  to  himself; 
"  and  I'm  bound  to  succeed  too." 

Just  then  his  courage  was  reinforced  by  the 
thought  of  his  inotto,  and  he  repeated  to  himself, 


&ARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  141 

fcfc*Siiik  or  swim,  live  or  die,  survive  or  perish,'*1 
closing:  the  quotation  in  a  manner  suited  to  his  eir- 
eumstnna's  and  determination. 

A  tier  a  while  they  reached  Nassau  Street,  and  the 
number  which  was  mentioned  in  tie  letter. 

"•  What  is  Mr.  Fairchild's  business?"  inquired  Mr, 
Falkland. 

*'•  He  is  a  commission  merchant." 

His  companion  'ooked  rather  surprised  at  this 
statement,  as  Nassau  Street  is  scarcely  the  place 
where  a  commission  merchant  would  be  likely  to 
establish  himself.  However,  he  did  not  feel  called 
apoxi  to  express  any  opinion  on  the  subject  to  Harry. 
It  was.  no  doubt,  all  right,  and  he  had  business  of 
his  own  to  occupy  Ms  thoughts.  As  long  as  he  con« 
ducted  Harry  safely  to  his  destination,  he  would 
have  done  all  that  he  had  agreed  to  do. 

They  paused  at  the  foot  of  the  staircase,  at  the 
bottom  of  which,  on  either  side,  was  <i  sort  of  direo 
tory  of  names  occupying  the  apartments  above. 
Opposite  .No.  7  was  the  name,  Lemuel  Fairchild. 

Harry  pointed  it  out  to  his  companion. 


142  SINK  OR  SWIM;  O.R, 

"That  is  the  right  name,  is  it?"  asked  Mr.  Falk 
land. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

44  Well,  I  suppose  you  won't  have  any  trouble  in 
finding  it.  Yon  don't  need  me  to  go  up  with  you,  do 
you?" 

"  Oh.  DO,  sir."  said  our  hero,  promptly.  ••  I'm  &]} 
right  now." 

•k  Good- by,  then." 

44  Good-by.     I  thank  you  for  your  care  of  me.*' 

Harry  shook  hands  with  Mr.  Falkland,  and  as 
cended  the  stairs.  The  staircase  was  rather  narrow, 
and  not  particularly  clean.  It  did  not  look  quite  so 
magnificent  as  Harry  had  anticipated,  whose  ideas 
of  places  of  business  in  the  city  were  rather  brighter 
than  the  reality.  But,  then,  he  reflected  that  people 
at  any  rate  got  rich  in  the  city,  and  that  was  the 
main  point. 

When  he  arrived  at  the  head  of  the  stairs  he  saw 
four  doors,  the  highest  number,  of  course,  going  up  to 
i.  It  would  be  necessary  to  climb  another  flight. 
This  he  did,  and  found  himself  very  soon  standing 
before  No.  7.  He  was  not  quite  sure  whether  he 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  143 

ought  to  knock,  or  go  directly  in.  On  the  whole,  he 
thought  it  best  to  knock. 

"  Come  in  !  "  said  a  voice  from  within. 

Harry  opened  the  door.  %nd  found  himself  in  the 
of  his  *mpioyer. 


144  SINK  os.  SWIM; 


CHAPTER     XV. 

HOW   THEY    DO   BUSINESS   IN   THE   CITY. 

THE  room  into  which  Harry  entered  was  possibly 
twenty  feet  square,  and  had  rather  a  desolate  look. 
It  was  poorly  lighted,  having  but  one  window,  look 
ing  upon  a  court-yard.  At  one  end  was  an  elevated 
desk,  with  a  large  ledger  lying  upon  it.  There  were 
two  arm-chairs  in  the  office,  on  one  of  which  a  man 
of  forty-five  sat  smoking  a  cigar.  He  was  rather  a 
hard-featured  man,  with  stiff,  wiry,  black  hair,  and 
rather  a  seedy  look. 

"  Is  Mr.  Fairchild  in  ?  "  asked  our  hero,  dubiously. 

"  I  am  Mr.  Fairchild,"  was  the  unexpected  reply. 
44  Are  you  young  Raymond  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir,"  replied  Harry,  feeling  considerably 
disappointed  with  the  appearance  of  his  employer  as 
well  as  the  office  in  which  he  was  to  work. 

The  fact  was,  he  had  formed  a  very  different  idea 
of  both  from  the  present  reality.  He  supposed  Mr. 


rr 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLD.  145 

Fairv_hllu  would  be  a  portly  man,  handsomely 
dressed,  and  his  j^lace  of  business  a  large  tfkiehouse 
several  times  as  large  as  Mr.  Porter's  store,  which  he 
had  just  left.  But  here  waj  a  miserable  little  twenty- 
foot  room,  at  which,  be  felt  very  confident,  John 
Gaylord  would  turn  up  his  nobe.  He  fervently  hoped 
that  none  of  his  country  friends  would  come  and  see 
him.  After  all  the  glowing  ?uit'cipations  he  had 
formed,  this  was  certainly  something  of  a  come-down. 
Then,  he  was  disappointed  in  Mr.  FaLxihild  himself. 
He  certainly  did  not  look  by  any  means  tike  a  pros 
perous  city  merchant,  doing  an  extensive  bvisiness. 

"Have  you  just  reached  New  York,  Raym-ord?" 
asked  the  merchant,  picking  his  teeth  with  the  bmall 
blade  of  his  pocket-knife. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Harry.     "  I  came  right  here." 

"  All  right.  I  was  expecting  you.  So  you  wsnk 
me  to  make  a  business  man  of  you,  eh  ?  " 

uYes,  sir,"  said  Harry,  wondering  if  he  should 
dress  as  shabbily  when  he  became  a  commission  mer 
chant. 

"  Well,  Til  do  my  best  for  you." 
10 


146  SINK  OR  SWIM;  ojt, 

44  How  is  business,  sir  ? "  asked  Harry,  a  little 
anxiously  under  the  circumstances. 

44  Pretty  good,"  answered  Mr.  Fairchild. 

Harry  involuntarily  looked  round  the  empty  room 
with  a  puzzled  air.  He  wondered  what  Mr.  Fair- 
child  had  to  sell,  and  where  he  kept  it.  He  could  not 
help  wondering,  also,  where  his  salary  of  twelve  dol 
lars  a  week  was  to  come  from. 

44  Yesterday  I  sold  a  cargo  of  sugar,"  resumed  Mr. 
Fairchild,  — 44  ten  thousand  dollars'  worth.  I  must 
have  you  make  out  the  bill  presently." 

Harry  looked  and  felt  astonished.  He  began  to 
suspect  that,  in  spite  of  appearances,  considerable 
business  might  be  done  even  in  this  little  room. 
Probably  Mr.  Porter's  sales  for  an  entire  year  would 
not  amount  to  more  than  twenty  thousand  dollars, 
yet  here  was  a  sale  of  half  that  amount  in  a  single 
day. 

44 Do  you  often  make  such  large  sales?"  he  asked, 
with  a  new  feeling  of  respect. 

44  Do  you  call  that  a  large  sale  ? "  said  the  mer* 
chant,  indifferently. 

44 1  should  think  it  was,  sir." 


RATMOyrfS    RRSCLf'E.  147 

•;  Ah.  yes,  your  being  from  the  country  explains 
that.  I  sell  large  quantities  of  merchandise  on  com 
mission.  I  never  take  any  consignment  worth  less 
than  a  thousand  dollars.  It  wouldn't  pay." 

"  Indeed  !  "  said  our  hero,  becoming  more  cheerful. 
The  office  was  small  and  dull.  Still  the  amount  of 
business  done  there  redeemed  its  significance. 

"  Day  before  yesterday  I  sold  a  cargo  of  cotton, 
amounting  to  —  let  me  see  —  " 

Mr.  Fairchild  went  to  the  desk,  and,  opening  it, 
took  out  a  small  blank  book. 

44  Twenty-seven  thousand  five  hundred  and  thirty 
three  dollars,  and  seventy-five  cents,"  he  read,  from 
the  book.  u  What  would  my  commission  on  this 
sale  be,  at  two  per  cent.  ?  I  want  to  see  whether  you 
are  quick  and  correct  at  figures." 

44  About  five  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,"  answered 
our  hero,  making  a  rapid  calculation  in  his  head. 
14  If  I  had  a  pencil  and  some  paper,  I  would  give  you 
the  exact  figures." 

u  Quite  right.  I  see  you  understand  the  principle 
That's  doing  very  fairly  for  one  day,  isn't  it  ?  " 

44  Yes,  sir."  said  Harry,  considerably  impressed. 


148  SINK  OR  SWIM;  on, 

At .  this  moment  a  man  entered,  and,  with  a  hasty 
glance  at  Harry,  addressed  Mr.  Fairchild. 

"  Ah.  Miller,  how  are  you?  "  said  the  merchant. 

44  Very  well,  but  in  a  great  huny.  Have  you  sold 
that  cargo  of  silks  yet  ?  " 

"  Not  yet," 

u  Have  you  thought  over  my  offer  of  this  morning  ?  " 

"  Seventeen  thousand  dollars  ?  Yes,  I  have  thought 
of  it,  and  I  can't  accept  it.  My  price  is  eighteen 
thousand." 

"  Too  much  ;  but  111  tell  you  what  I'll  do,  I'll  split 
the  difference,  and  say  five  hundred." 

This  offer,  after  a  little  chaffering,  was  finally 
agreed  to. 

"  Raymond,"  said  Mr.  Fairchild,  "  make  out  a  bill 
against  Mr.  Miller,  Thomas  Miller,  of  seventeen 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars  for  the  cargo  of  silks,  at 
present  on  the  ship  Argo,  You  will  find  pen  and 
paper  on  the  desk." 

Harry  stepped  to  the  desk,  and  with  some  tribu 
lation  made  out  the  bill,  as  he  would  have  done  for 
a  supply  of  groceries.  He  feared  that  it  would  not 
answer ;  but  on  handing  it  to  Mr.  Fairchild  that  gen- 


HARRJ  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE*  14* 

tlemau  made  no  criticism.  He  just  glanced  at  it, 
and  handed  it  to  Mr.  Miller. 

44  Very  well,  I'll  send  round  a  check  for  the  amount 
in  the  morning." 

44  All  right." 

44  Good-morning.  I  am  in  a  hurry ; "  and  tbe  silk 
purchaser  went  out. 

44  What  do  you  think  of  that  specimen  oi  doing 
business,  Raymond  ? "  asked  Mr.  Fairchild,  compla 
cently. 

44  It  didn't  take  long." 

44  No,  that's  the  city  style.  And  it  pays  too 
Just  calculate  the  commission  on  that  salt  ^t  two  per 
cent." 

44  Three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,"  saM  our  hero, 
promptly. 

44 1  dare  say  you  are  not  used  to  such  trvisactions 
in  the  country." 

44  No,  sir." 

44  Well,  it's  a  very  comfortable  way  of  dc***ig  busi 
ness.  Probably  I  may  have  no  other  sale  tcMay  — 
possibly  not  to-morrow  ;  but  two  or  three  large  sales 
a  week  count  up." 


150  SINK  OR  SWJM;  OR, 

Harry  began  to  think  he  should  not  have  to  work 
very  hard,  and  his  doubt  as  to  Mr.  Fan-child's  making 
money  enough  to  pay  him  his  wages  disappeared. 

"Do  you  want  me  to  go  to  work  at  once?"  he 
asked. 

"  Yes,  I  have  some  copying  for  you  to  do.  Open 
that  ledger/' 

Harry  did  so. 

u  You  may  commence  at  page  51,  and  copy  down 
the  entries  upon  these  sheets  of  paper.  You  are 
used  to  copying,  aren't  you  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,  but  I  can  do  it  well  enough." 

*Very  well.  You  may  go  to  work  at  once.  I 
must  make  a  business  call.  I  will  be  back  in  an 
hour  or  two,  and  take  you  to  dinner." 

He  took  his  hat  and  went  out.  Harry  began  to 
copy  industriously.  The  transactions  entered  ap 
peared  to  date  several  years  back,  and  Harry  did  not 
exactly  understand  what  connection  they  had  with 
Mr.  Lemuel  Fairchild's  business.  But  then,  as  he 
reflected,  he  was  not  competent  to  judge  of  that.  A  U 
he  had  to  do  was  to  obey  instructions,  and  after 
a  while  he  would  know  more.  It  was  certainly  very 


HARRT  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  151 

astonishing  the  way  in  which  business  was  done  ifi 
the  city.  The  prospect  of  being  cooped  up  in  a  small, 
dark  room  was  not  very  pleasant.  Still  Harry  re 
called  the  pleasant  circumstance  that  he  was  earning 
two  dollars  a  day,  and  was  at  the  same  time  learning 
business.  So  far  as  he  could  see,  the  commission 
business  was  not  very  difficult  to  learn.  Perhaps 
Mr.  Fairchild  might  eventually  admit  him  as  a  part 
ner  in  the  firm.  If  so,  he  would  soon  realize  a  for 
tune. 

Harry  kept  on  copying  steadily  while  these 
thoughts  were  passing  through  his  mind.  After  an 
hour  or  more  the  door  opened,  and  Mr.  Fairchild 
entered. 

"  How  much  have  you  copied?"  he  asked,  advanc 
ing  to  the  desk. 

4k  About  two  pages  and  a  half,"  said  Harry.  "  la 
it  done  right?" 

His  employer  glanced  at  the  writing  carelessly, 

44  Yes,"  he  said,  "  it  will  do  very  well.  You  have 
a  good  business-hand." 

"  I  shall  improve  as  I  go  on,  I  hope,"  said  Harry, 
modestly. 


152  siNf  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

u  Oh,  of  course.  I've  no  doubt  I  shall  be  able  to 
make  a  business-man  of  you.  But  I  suppose  you  are 
getting  hungry." 

Harry  admitted  that  he  was  a  little  hungry. 

"  Well,  we  will  go  out  as  soon  as  a  friend  arrives 
whom  I  have  invited  to  accompany  us." 

Fifteen  minutes  after,  the  friend  referred  to 
a/rived.  It  was  Hartley  Brandon,  —  the  same  man 
who  had  visited  Squire  Turner  in  Vernon  the  week 
before. 

He  glanced  sharply  at  our  hero,  and  said  something 
in  a  low  tone  to  Mr.  Fairchild  which  Harry  did  not 
understand.  He  little  dreamed  that  the  new-comer 
was  to  be  intimately  connected  with  his  fortunes. 
Still  less  did  he  dream  that  he  was  an  agent  of 
Squire  Turner,  and  that  all  the  profitable  business 
transactions  of  Mr.  Lemuel  Fairchild  were  merely 
fictitious,  and  got  up  solely  to  deceive  him.  Harry 
was  a  smart  boy,  but  even  smart  boys  are  likely  to 
be  taken  in,  in  matters  of  which  they  have  no  previ 
ous  experience.  But  Harry's  eyes  were  to  be 
opened  very  soon. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  158 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

HARRY'S  FIRST  BUSINESS  TRANSACTION. 

LEMUEL  FAIRCHILD  conducted  Brandon  and  Harry 
to  Lovejov's  Hotel  on  Broadway,  and  led  the  way  to 
the  restaurant  connected  with  the  hotel. 

"  I've  done  a  good  stroke  of  business  this  morn 
ing,"  he  said.  "  I  can  afford  to  stand  treat.  Sit 
down,  Mr.  Brandon.  Sit  down,  Raymond.  Now, 
what  will  you  have?" 

"  Roast  beef,"  answered  Brandon.  "  I  prefer  the 
sirloin." 

"  Very  good.     What  for  you,  Raymond?" 

"  The  same,"  said  Harry. 

"  Three  plates  of  sirloin,"  ordered  Mr.  Fairchild. 
u  By  the  way,  Captain  Brandon,  I  have  been  giving 
our  young  friend  here  a  little  inkling  into  the  way  we 
do  business  in  the  city." 

"  Well,  my  lad,"  said  Brandon,  "  how  do  you  like 
it?" 


154  SINK  OR  SWIM;  O.R, 

"  I  think  I  shall  like  it  when  I  get  used  to  it,  sir," 
said  Harry.  , 

"  I  made  a  sale  amounting  to  nearly  eighteen 
thousand  dollars  this  morning,"  remarked  the  com 
mission  merchant. 

"  You're  not  used  to  doing  business  on  so  large  a 
scale  in  the  country,  I  take  it  ?  "  said  Brandon. 

"  No,  sir." 

"  The  city's  the  place  for  a  smart  lad  like  you 
You'll  make  your  way  here." 

"  I  hope  so." 

"  No  doubt  of  it,  if  you  attend  to  business,  and  do 
whatever  you  are  told." 

"  I  mean  to  do  my  duty." 

"That's  the  talk,"  said  Fail-child,  who  for  a 
wealthy  city  merchant  used  a  variety  of  phrases 
hardly  to  be  expected.  "  By  the  time  you're  thirty 
you'll  be  a  rich  man.  I  didn't  start  with  one  quarter 
of  your  advantages.  When  I  was  your  age  I  worked 
for  three  dollars  a  week,  and  had  to  pay  my  board 
out  of  it.  See  where  I  am  now." 

Mr.  Fairchild,  as  I  have  stated,  was  dressed  rather 
shabbily,  and,  so  far  as  appearance  went,  did  not 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RRSOLVS.  155 

seem  to   have   got  far  beyond  the  point  where   ha 
started. 

If  Harry  had  not  witnessed  the  extensive  scale  or 
which  he  transacted  business,  he  might  not  have  been 
very  much  impressed  by  his  remarks ;  but,  not  sus 
pecting  any  deception,  he  supposed  that  everything 
was  as  stated,  and  felt  very  much  encouraged  by  his 
remarks. 

u  You'll  be  taking  our  young  Mend  as  partner 
some  of  these  days,  Mr.  Fairchild,"  said  Brandon. 

"  I  make  no  promises,"  answered  Fairchild  ;  "  but 
by  the  time  he  gets  grown  up  I  shall  feel  the  need  of 
sharing  my  responsibilities  with  some  one.  If  he 
suits  me,  it  may  be  as  you  say." 

"  Why  not?  I  suppose  you  are  growing  rich  fast, 
Fairchild." 

"  That  isn't  for  me  to  say.  I  don't  tell  all  about 
my  affairs,  as  some  do ;  but  I  could  afford  to  give 
away  a  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  have  enough 
left  to  live  handsomely." 

"  I  congratulate  you  on  your  success,  and  hope  our 
young  friend  here  will  succeed  as  well.  By  the  way, 
I  wish  you  would  order  me  some  coffee." 


156  SINK  OR  SWIM;  ox, 

"  Certainly.  Call  for  anything  you  like.  Ilay- 
mond,  will  you  have  some  coffee?" 

"  Thank  you,  sir,  I  should  like  some." 

•4  We  poor  sailors,"  said  Brandon,  stirring  iris 
coffee,  "  don't  get  rich  so  fast  as  you  merchants. 
We  brave  the  elements,  and  you  reap  the  profits. 
That's  about  the  way  of  it,  I  take  it." 

"  By  the  way,  when  do  you  sail,  Captain  Bran 
don?" 

44  It  is  not  quite  decided.  Tn  a  day  or  two.  Werl 
you  ever  on  board  a  ship,  my  lad  ?  " 

"No,  sir." 

"  You'd  like  to  see  one,  I  suppose?" 

"  Yes,"  said  our  young  hero,  eagerly ;  "  I  should 
enjoy  it  very  much." 

"Don't  you  think  you  could  spare  him  a  little 
while  to-morrow  morning,  Fairchild?  Business  isn't 
very  driving,  is  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  could  spare  him,  I  think,  if  he  would  like 
to  go." 

44  All  right,  then.  I  shall  be  passing  your  office  in 
the  morning,  and  will  take  him  along  and  show  him 
the  Set*  Eagle." 


BARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVR. 


u  Yon  are  very  kind,  sir,"  said  Harry,  gratefully. 
He  was  rather  surprised  at  the  amount  of  attention 
he  received  from  his  employer  and  the  captain.  In 
deed,  he  had  reason  to  be,  for  I  may  remark  for  the 
benefit  of  rny  country  readers,  whose  expectations 
might  otherwise  be  unduly  raised,  that  city  mer 
chants  rarely  offer  a  prospective  partnership  to  a  boy 
on  the  first  day  of  his  entering  their  employment. 
Had  Harry  possessed  more  experience,  he  might  have 
been  led  to  suspect  that  there  was  something  queer 
about  it  ;  but  he  reflected  that  in  the  city  things  were 
different  from  what  he  had  been  accustomed  to  in  the 
country.  F,ven  Mr.  Porter,  who  only  kept  a  common 
village  stc*re,  had  not  said  anything  about  taking  him 
into  partnership  at  any  period,  however  remote  ;  but 
here  was  a  wealthy  city  merchant  who  held  out  the 
tempting  inducement.  No  wonder  our  hero  indulged 
in  some  gorgeous  castle-building,  and  began  to  dream 
of  what  lie  would  do  when  he  was  junior  partner  in 
the  city  firm  of  Fairchild  and  Raymond. 

At  length  the  dinner  was  over,  and  the  three 
walked  back  in  company  to  the  office  in  Nassau 
Sti  eet. 


158  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

"What  shall  I  do,  Mr.  Fairchild ? "  asked  Harry 

"  You  may  keep  on  with  your  copying,"  said  his 
employer,  carelessly.  "  I  have  some  business  with 
Captain  Brandon,  and  shall  be  away  with  him  most 
of  the  afternoon.  Yon  can  attend  to  the  office." 

"  Yes,  sir/ 

"  If  any  parties  should  call  on  business  with  me, 
you  may  tell  them  to  call  to-morrow  morning." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  If  a  gentleman  should  call,  and  inquire  my  price 
for  a  consignment  of  spices,  you  may  say  that  the 
lowest  figure  is  ten  thousand  dollars." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"If  he  should  be  willing  to  pay  that,  you  have  my 
authority  to  close  the  bargain." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

Here  Mr.  Fairchild  went  out,  and  Harry  was  left 
to  himself.  When  he  reflected  that  he  was  authorized 
to  close  a  bargain  of  so  extensive  a  character,  involv 
ing  property  to  the  amount  of  ten  thousand  dollara, 
he  felt  considerably  raised  in  his  own  estimation. 

"  I  might  have  plodded   on  in   Vernon   for  fifty 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  159 

years,  before  having  such  a  responsibility  thrown 
upon  me,"  he  said  to  himself. 

He  continued  his  copying  for  an  hour,  when  the 
door  opened,  and  a  man  entered  briskly. 

"  Is  Mr.  Fairchild  in?  "  he  asked. 

"  No,  sir." 

"When  will  he  be  in?" 

"  He  may  return  late  in  the  afternoon.  He  left 
word,  if  any  one  called,  to  ask  them  to  come  back  to 
morrow  morning." 

"  That  won't  do  for  me.  I  must  leave  the  city  this 
evening.  I  am  sorry  not  to  find  him  in,"  said  the 
stranger,  in  a  tone  of  vexation. 

"  Perhaps  you  will  leave  word  about  your  business, 
and  he  can  write  to  you." 

"  It  was  about  some  spices  that  I  wished  to  pur- 
cnase,  if  we  could  come  to  terms." 

"  Oh,"  said  Harry,  with  animation,  "  he  left  word 
with  me  about  that.  I  can  tell  you  whatever  you 
wish  to  know." 

"  Do  you  know  his  price,  —  his  lowest  price? " 

%4  Yes,  sir ;  it  is  ten  thousand  dollars.  He  won't 
take  a  cent  less." 


lt>0  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR* 

44  You  are  sure  of  that?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  he  told  me  so  expressly." 

kk  If  he  were  here  I  would  close  the  bargain." 

44  You  can  do  so  now.  I  have  authority  to  sell,*' 
said  our  hero,  in  a  tone  of  pardonable  importance. 

44  Indeed  !  You  are  quite  a  man  of  business  of 
your  age.  However,  if  you  have  authority  for  selling, 
you  may  make  out  a  bill,  and  I  will  send  round  my 
check." 

44  Very  well,  sir." 

Harry  did  as  requested,  and  the  stranger,  ex 
pressing  himself  satisfied,  departed. 

Previous  to  Mr.  Fairchild's  departure,  he  gave 
Harry  permission  to  write  home  if  he  desired  it. 
Our  hero  decided  to  avail  himself  of  this  permission, 
being  anxious  to  apprize  his  mother  of  his  position, 
and  the  circumstances  in  which  he  found  himself. 
Writing  immediately  after  the  important  business 
transaction  just  mentioned,  he  may  be  pardoned  if 
his  letter  is  somewhat  sanguine,  and  confident  in  its 
tone. 

This  is  what  he  wrote :  — 


HARRY   RAYMOND'S    RESOLVE.  161 

"  DEAR  MOTHER:  — It  is  so  short  a  time  since  J 
left  home  that  you  may  suppose  I  will  have  nothing 
to  write  ;  but  I  find  things  very  different  in  the  city 
from  what  they  are  in  Vernon.  You  will  be  sur 
prised  when  I  tell  you  that  I  have  just  sold  a  lot  of 
spices  for  ten  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Fairchild  was 
out,  and  told  me  what  price  to  ask.  We  don't  keep 
the  goods  we  sell  here.  I  don't  know  where  they 
are  kept  yet ;  but  I  shall  learn  more  about  the  busi 
ness  when  I  have  been  here  longer.  The  commission 
frhich  Mr.  Fairchild  gets  on  the  sale  I  made  amounts 
k>  two  hundred  dollars  ;  so  I  think  I  have  earned  my 
wages  so  far,  don't  you  ? 

u  I  think  I  shall  like  Mr.  Fairchild.  He  seems 
disposed  to  be  kind  to  me,  and  has  said  something 
about  taking  me  into  partnership  pome  time,  if  I  suit 
him.  1  shall  try  hard  to  do  so,  as  that  would  bring 
me  a  very  large  income,  and  I  could  do  a  great  deal 
for  you,  dear  mother,  and  little  Katy.  If  you  should 
see  our  place  of  business,  you  would  be  surprised 
that  so  large  a  business  could  be  done  here.  It  is 
only  a  small  room,  and  not  very  pleasant.  1  felt 

disappointed  at  first,  but  I  begin  to  understand  bet- 
11 


182  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OK, 

ter  now  how  they  manage  in  the  city.     I  was  disap 
pointed  in  Mr.  Fairchild,  also.     He  does  not  seem 
to  care  much  about  dress,  considering  how  rich  he  is, 
and   what   a   splendid    business   he   does.     He    has 
introduced  me  to  a  sea-captain  of  his  acquaintance, 
who  has  invited  me  to  go  on  board   his  vessel  to 
morrow.     I  shall  like  it,  as  I   never  was  on   a  ship. 
Most  of  my  time  is  spent  in  copying  from  a   ledger 
I  don't  know  yet  where  I  am  to  board  ;  Mr.  Fairchild 
has  not  told  me,  but  I  will  try  to  write  you  again  to 
morrow,  and  let  yon  know  all  about  it.     I  wish  you 
were  living  here  in  the  city,  so  that  I  could  board 
with  you.     That    will   come   some   time,  I  hope.     I 
close  with  much  love  to  you  and  Katy 
"  Your  affectionate  son, 

u  HARRY  RAYMOND." 

This  letter  gave  great  comfort  to  Mrs.  Raymond. 
She  felt  that,  though  Harry  was  separated  from  her 
at  present,  he  had  embarked  upon  a  prosperous  busi 
ness  career,  and  that  better  times  were  in  store  for 
both.  Poor  woman !  it  was  the  last  letter  she 
received  from  Harry  for  many  a  long,  tedious  day. 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  163 


CHAPTER     XVII. 

THE    FIRST    NIGHT    IN    THE    CITT. 

PROBABLY  the  reader  has  noticed,  with  some  sur 
prise,  that  Mr.  Fairchild  addressed  his  sailor  con 
federate  as  Captain  Brandon,  and  may  have  thought 
the  name  wrongly  applied.  But  by  a  lucky  accident, 
as  he  termed  it,  he  had  been  unexpectedly  elevated 
to  the  chief  command  of  the  vessel  on  which  he  was 
about  to  sail.  Captain  Hatch,  who  had  been 
expected  to  fill  this  place,  was  a  good  sailor,  but 
addicted  to  intemperate  habits.  In  a  fit  of  intoxi 
cation  only  two  days  previous,  he  had  got  into  a 
fracas,  and  been  so  severely  injured  that  it  was  found 
necessary  to  send  him  to  the  hospital,  where  he  was 
likely  to  be  detained  some  time.  Meantime  the  Sea 
Eagle  was  all  ready  to  sail,  and  the  owners,  without 
knowing  much  of  Hartley  Brandon,  who  had  been 
engaged  as  first  mate,  offered  him  the  captain's  place, 
which  it  is  needless  to  say  he  accepted  with  alacrity, 


164  SINK  GR  SWLW;  OK, 

It  was  a  position  which  for  years  he  had  striven  to 
obtain,  but  until  now  unsuccessfully.  So  far  as  sea 
manship  rcas  concerned,  he  was  as  well  fitted  for  the 
place  as  many  who  had  filled  it  for  years ;  but  he  was 
reckless  and  unreliable,  and  disposed  at  times  to  be 
despotic,  so  that  he  had  never  been  popular  with  the 
crews  which  he  had  commanded  as  officer.  How 
ever,  there  was  little  to  choose,  and  to  this  fact  he 
was  indebted  for  his  present  post. 

Lemuel  Fairchild  was  a  seedy  adventurer,  whom  he 
nad  engaged  for  a  small  consideration  to  play  the 
part  of  a  commission  merchant,  in  order  to  draw 
Harry  to  the  city,  where  there  would  be  an  oppor 
tunity  to  carry  out  his,  or  rather  Squire  Turner's, 
intentions,  Vvh  regard  to  him.  Of  course,  all  the 
large  business  transactions  were  bogus,  the  parties 
pretending  to  fc\  jrchase  cargoes  being  intimates  of 
Fairchild.  The  office  in  Nassau  Street  had  been 
hired  for  a  week  only,  as  that  would  be  sufficient  for 
Brandon's  purpose.  The  ledger,  out  of  which  our 
hero  was  employed  to  copy,  had  formerly  belonged 
to  a  business  house  now  bankrupt,  and  had  been 
bought  cheap  of  a  paper  firm  in  Ann  Street,  whithef 


HARRT  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  16f> 

it  had  found  its  way  among  the  waste  which  is  dili 
gently  gathered  by  the  squalid  army  of  rag-pickers, 
that  usually  prowl  about  the  streets,  and  explore  the 
lanes  and  alleys  of  the  great  metropolis. 

The  reader  is  now  in  possession  of  all  the  net-work 
of  deception  by  which  Brandon's  ingenuity  had  con 
trived  to  dupe  our  young  hero.  It  is  no  wonder  that, 
smart  as  he  was,  he  failed  to  discover  this.  What 
ever  seemed  strange  to  him  he  naturally  attributed 
to  his  want  of  knowledge  of  city  ways. 

When  night  came,  and  the  office  closed,  Mr.  Fair- 
child  took  Harry  to  Lovejoy's  once  more  to  take  sup 
per. 

"  I  must  get  a  boarding-place  for  you  to-morrow," 
he  said.  "  To-night,  I  will  secure  a  room  for  you 
here." 

"  Where  do  you  live,  Mr.  Fairchild?  "  asked  Harry, 
with  natural  curiosity. 

"  Why,  the  fact  is,  I  am  boarding  at  the  hotel 
myself  just  at  present.  I  have  a  fine  house  up  town, 
but  it  is  being  painted  and  refurnished,  and,  until 
that  is  finished,  I  board  at  a  hotel." 

"Are  you  married?"  continued  Harry,  who  WM 


166  SIXK  OR  SWIM;  o.#, 

something  of  a  Yankee,  as  he  showed  by  bis  ques< 
tions. 

44  My  wife  and  children  are  travelling  in  Europe," 
said  Mr.  Fairchild,  telling,  of  course,  an  unblushing 
falsehood.  "  I  would  join  them  if  I  could  get  away 
from  my  business.  I  must  wait  till  I  have  a  partner 
to  leave  in  charge."  And  he  looked  at  Harry  in  a 
significant  way,  which  caused  our  young  hero's  heart 
to  beat  with  proud  anticipations. 

They  made  a  very  good  supper,  and  then  sat  down 
for  a  while  in  the  public  room,  Fairchild  smoking  a 
couple  of  cigars  with  evident  enjoyment.  He  offered 
one  to  Harry,  which  the  latter  declined,  having  for 
tunately  never  acquired  a  habit  that  to  boys,  at  least, 
can  never  be  productive  of  good. 

About  eight  o'clock  Harry  asked  permission  to  go 
to  bed.  His  long  ride  in  the  morning,  with  the  new 
experiences  of  his  first  day  in  the  city,  had  produced 
a  feeling  of  fatigue. 

"  Oh,  yes,  you  can  go  to  bed  if  you  like,"  said  Fair- 
child.  "  I'll  speak  to  the  clerk  to  give  us  a  room 
with  two  beds." 


PARRY  RAYMOND'S  RSSOLTE. 

4  How  early  do  you  want  me  to  get  up  in  the 
morning,  Mr.  Fairchild  ?  " 

u  How  early  do  you  get  up  in  the  country?  " 

"  About  half-past  five." 

"  We  don't  rise  so  early  in  the  city.  We'll  break 
fast  at  eight,  and  get  to  the  office  at  nine.  Any  time 
before  eight  will  do." 

Harry  thought  that  nine  was  rather  late  to  com 
mence  business  ;  but  this,  as  he  supposed,  was  only 
another  difference  between  the  city  and  the  country. 

Harry  soon  fell  asleep  in  spite  of  the  rattling  of 
wheels  and  the  never-ceasing  noise  in  the  busy 
street  beneath.  He  was  too  tired  even  to  dream,  but 
slept  soundly  until  the  next  morning. 

When  he  awoke  it  was  broad  daylight.  He  looked 
across  the  room,  and  saw  Fairchild  still  sleeping. 
He  jumped  out  of  bed,  and  dressed  hastily.  Remem 
bering  that  it  was  his  first  morning  in  the  city,  he 
was  eager  to  go  downstairs,  and  look  about  him. 

Fairchild  opened  his  eyes  sleepily,  as  he  completed 
iressing. 

"  Up  already,  Raymond?"  he  asked,  in  a  drowsy 
tone. 


16^  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR* 

•4  Yes.  sir." 

u  What  time  is  it?" 

"  I  just  heard  it  strike  seven." 

44  Well,  go  down  if  you  like.  I  will  be  down  bj 
eight  o'clock." 

Harry  availed  himself  of  the  permission,  and 
descended  four  flights  of  stairs,  for  they  were  on  the 
fifth  story,  to  the  office. 

As  he  emerged  into  the  street,  a  ragged  urchin 
came  up  and  accosted  him  with  the  familiar  question, 
44  Shine  yer  boots?  " 

"  Go  ahead,"  said  Harry,  perceiving  that  his  boots 
were  stained  with  mud. 

The  task  was  performed  in  a  creditable  style,  and 
our  hero  was  called  upon  to  disburse  ten  cents.  He 
resolved,  as  soon  as  he  got  settled  in  a  boarding- 
house,  to  buy  a  brush  and  some  blacking  for  himself, 
feeling  that  he  was  not  yet  in  circumstances  to  pay 
ten  cents  daily  for  having  his  boots  blacked. 

He  stood  at  the  door  of  the  hotel,  and  watched 
the  throng  of  wayfarers,  which,  commencing  two 
hours  before,  would  flow  without  interruption  through 
the  busy  street  until  the  small  hours.  It  was  to 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  163 

our  hero,  born  and  bred  in  the  quiet  country,  an 
animated  and  interesting  spectacle,  and  he  felt  glad, 
in  spite  of  a  certain  feeling  of  loneliness,  that  he 
was  employed  in  the  city. 

At  eight  o'clock  his  employer  came  down,  and 
they  went  together  into  the  saloon,  where  they 
took  a  substantial  breakfast,  the  expense  being 
defrayed  by  Captain  Brandon,  acting  for  Squire 
Turner. 

Shortly  afterwards  they  went  round  to  the  office 
in  Nassau  Street. 

Lemuel  Fairchild  seated  himself  in  his  position 
of  the  day  before,  with  his  heels  on  the  mantel-piece, 
and  diligently  perused  the  columns  of  the  u  New 
York  Herald,"  a  copy  of  which  he  had  bought  in  the 
street  below. 

"  What  shall  I  do,  Mr.  Fairchild?"  asked  Harry. 

"  Go  on  with  your  copying,"  said  Fairchild,  not 
lifting  his  eyes  from  the  paper. 

So  our  hero  opened  the  ledger,  and  went  to  work. 
Hio  task  was  not  a  very  interesting  one.  Still  he 
was  earning  two  dollars  a  day,  and  this  money 
would  enable  him  to  provide  for  his  mother ;  so  he 


170  SINK  OR  SWIM;  o/>>, 

buckled  to  it  in  earnest,  determined  to  show  bis 
employer  that  he  was  not  afraid  of  work.  He  had 
commenced  working  for  the  partnership  of  which 
a  prospect  had  been  given  him. 

About  ten  o'clock  the  door  opened,  and  Brandon 
entered. 

kt  Good-morning,  Captain  Brandon,"  said  Fair- 
child,  rising. 

"  Good-morning,  Fairchild.  Good-morning,  my 
lad." 

"  Good-morning,  sir,"  answered  Harry. 

"  Well,  my  lad,  are  you  ready  to  make  a  little 
visit  to  my  ship  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  if  Mr.  Fairchild  is  willing." 

"  Oh,  he'll  be  willing ;  I'll  guarantee  that.  Your 
writing  can  wait  till  another  time.  Eh,  Fairchild?  " 

"  Yes,  he  can  go,"  assented  the  merchant. 

Harry  picked  up  his  but,  and  accompanied  Bran 
don  to  the  street. 

"  It's  all  right,"  said  Brandon,  in  a  whisper, 
placing  a  small  roll  of  bills  in  the  hand  of 
Fairchild.  "  It'll  be  a  long  time  before  you  set  eyes 
on  your  office-boy  again." 


MARRY   RAYMONDS    RESOLVE.  171 


CHAPTER     XVIII. 

GOIXG    ON    BOARD. 

HARRY  crossed  Broadway  with  his  companion, 
iind  went  down  a  side  street  to  the  North  River  pier, 
at  which  lay  the  Sea  Eagle,  of  which  Brandon  had 
obtained  the  command.  It  was  a  vessel  of  good 
size,  and  was  now  all  ready  for  sea.  This  fact, 
however.  Captain  Brandon  did  not  care  to  commu 
nicate  to  his  young  companion. 

•fc  How  soon  do  you  sail,  Captain  Brandon?"  asked 
Harry. 

"  In  a  day  or  two,"  said  Brandon. 

u  Is  your  voyage  a  long  one?  " 

"  We  are  bound  for  China." 

"  That  is  a  long  trip." 

"  Yes,  a  very  long  one." 

a  Don't  you  get  tired  of  the  sea?  " 

44  Oh,  we  sailors  get  used  to  it." 

-  I  don't  think  I  should  like  it." 


172  5/JVTJL    OR    SWIM,    Oft, 

41  So  you  wouldn't  like  being  a  sailor?  '  said 
Brandon,  looking  at  the  lad  with  a  meaning  which 
the  latter  did  not  understand. 

"  No,  I  don't  think  I  should." 

"  So  I  thought  at  your  age  ;  but  I  became  a  sailor, 
after  all." 

However  it  might  have  been  in  the  case  of  Captain 
Brandon,  Harry  thought  it  very  improbable  that 
euch  a  change  would  take  place  in  his  own  views. 

At  length  he  reached  the  pier.  Bales  of  merchan 
dise  lay  scattered  about,  and  there  was  a  general 
appearance  of  confusion  and  disorder. 

"  There  is  my  vessel,"  said  Captain  Brandon, 
pointing  it  out.  "  Don't  you  want  to  go  to  China 
frith  me?" 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Harry,  with  a  smile,  "  but  I 
will  wait  till  I  am  older." 

44  And  then  go  as  a  merchant,  I  suppose?  " 

4*  Perhaps  so." 

u  Well,  we  will  go  on  board,  at  ail  events.  I  will 
show  you  about." 

Harry  ascended  to  the  deck,  and  Captain  Brandon 
followed.  The  latter  began  to  point  out  and  name 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLI'R.  173 

various  parts  of  the  vessel,  walking  about  with  our 
hero.  The  sailors  looked  with  some  curiosity  at 
Harry,  but  of  course  asked  no  questions.  The  mate, 
however,  Mr.  Hawkes,  after  speaking  with  Brandon 
about  some  matter  connected  with  the  vessel,  asked, 
u  Is  that  the  cahin-boy?" 

•'  Certainly/'  said  Brandon. 

u  He  asks  if  you  are  the  cabin-boy,"  he  said, 
after  the  mate  had  passed  on.  "  It's  a  good  joke, 
isn't  it?" 

u  Yes,"  saul  Harry,  smiling. 

"Now  suppose  we  go  into  the  cabin,"  said 
Brandon. 

"  Thank  you,"  assented  Harry. 

Accordingly  they  descended  into  the  ship's  cabin, 
which,  though  small,  was  very  comfortable. 

"  Sit  down,  Raymond,"  said  the  captain,  setting 
the  example. 

On  the  cabin  table  was  spread  out  a  slight  repast, 
consisting  of  sandwiches  and  ale. 

*k  We'll  take  a  little  lunch,"  said  Brandon.  "It's 
hungry  work  walking  al>out  the  streets.  You  can 
eat  a  little  something,  I  guess." 


174  SINK  OB  SWIM;  OR. 

"  Thank  you.  sir,"  said  Harry,  accepting  a  sand 
wich. 

"  Let  me  pour  you  out  some  ale." 

"  I  don't  think  I  care  for  any,  thank  you." 

"  Pooh,  nonsense,  ale  won't  do  you  any  harm : " 
and  Brandon  filled  his  glass. 

Harry  had  never  even  tasted  of  ale,  but  he  did  not 
know  how  to  refuse  the  captain's  hospitality,  and 
raised  the  glass  to  his  lips.  The  taste  was  not  alto 
gether  agreeable,  so  he  merely  sipped  a  little,  and 
set  it  down  again. 

"  Don't  you  like  it?" 

"  Not  very  much." 

"Never  mind,  it'll  do  you  good.  Nothing  more 
wholesome." 

"  How  long  will  your  voyage  be,  Captain  Bran 
don?" 

u  Eighteen  months  ;  perhaps  longer.  By  th?  time 
I  get  back,  I  suppose  you  will  have  become  quite 
a  man  of  business." 

u  I  hope  so,"  said  Harry. 

"  How  do  you  like  my  friend  Fairchild?" 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  175 

"  He  has  been  quite  kind  to  me.  I  think  I  shall 
like  him." 

u  Keep  on,  and  some  time  you  may  be  as  rich  as 
he,"  said  the  captain,  closing  the  remark  with  a 
laugh,  for  which  our  hero  could  see  no  good  reason. 

"  I  should  like  to  be  rich,  for  my  mother's  sake," 
said  Harry,  seriously. 

"  For  your  mother's  sake,  of  course.  Let  me  see, 
—  what's  the  name  of  the  town  you  come  from  ?  " 

"  Vernon." 

"  Ah,  yes,  I  think  I've  heard  of  it.  A  small  place, 
isn't  it?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  it's  only  a  village." 

"  Any  rich  people  there  ?  " 

"  There's  one,  —  Squire  Turner." 

"Squire  Turner?"  repeated  Brandon.  "What 
sort  of  a  man  is  he  ?  " 

He  asked  the  question  carelessly,  but  fixed  his 
eyes  on  Harry  as  he  spoke.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  Squire  Turner,  unwilling  to  trust  his  scapegrace 
cousin  too  far,  had  carefully  kept  hidden  from  him 
the  cause  of  his  hostility  to  our  hero.  This 
naturally  stimulated  the  curiosity  of  Brandon,  to 


176  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

whom  it  occurred  that  he  might,  by  Cjuesiioning  the 
boy,  draw  out  the  truth. 

44  He's  quite  a  prominent  man  in  Vernon,"  an 
swered  Harry,  cautiously. 

44 1  suppose  he  is  popular,  also." 

44  Not  very  popular." 

44  Why  not? " 

44  He  is  not  very  liberal." 

"  Then  you  don't  like  him?  " 

44 1  haven't  had  much  to  do  with  him." 

44  Confound  him!  why  don't  he  speak  out?"  said 
Brandon  to  himself.  It  occurred  to  him,  however, 
that  further  questions,  respecting  a  man  whom  he 
was  not  supposed  to  know,  might  excite  the  suspi 
cions  of  the  boy,  and  he  refrained. 

Meanwhile  Harrf,  who  had  a  healthy  boy's  ap 
petite,  had  commenced  eating  his  second  sandwich, 
but  he  had  not  again  tasted  of  the  ale. 

i4  Come,"  said  Captain  Brandon,  44  suppose  we 
drink  success  to  the  Sea  Eagle,  and  a  quick  and 
prosperous  voyage." 

So  saying,  he  placed  the  glass  to  his  lips. 

"With  pleasure,"  responded  Harry,  following  hii 


BARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  177 

example.  He  merely  tasted  the  ale,  however,  and 
then  set  down  the  glass. 

"  That  will  never  do,  my  lad,"  said  the  captain 
"It  is  always  usual,  on  such  occasions,  to  drain  the 
glass." 

"  I  don't  like  ale  very  well." 

"  But  you  won't  refuse  to  drink  it,  under  such 
circumstances  ?  " 

Fearing  that  his  refusal  might  be  misconstrued, 
Harry  gulped  down  the  liquid,  though  with  some  dif 
ficulty. 

"  Come,  that's  well,"  said  the  captain,  with  satis 
faction.  "  I  won't  ask  you  to  drink  any  more.  Now 
suppose  I  tell  you  a  little  of  the  countries  I  have 
visited.  We  sailors  see  strange  things." 

"I  should  be  glad  to  have  you,"  said  our  hero, 
thinking  that  the  captain  took  great  pains  to  please 
him. 

Brandon  launched  out  into  a  long  and  circum 
stantial  account  of  Brazil,  and  afterwards  of  Aus 
tralia,  both  of  which  he  had  visited.  Harry  listened 
at  first  with  interest,  but  gradually  a  strange  sen 
sation  of  drowsiness  came  over  him.  His  eyes 
12 


176  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OK, 

drooped  heavily,  and  it  was  with  a  continual  effort 
that  he  kept  them  open.  The  captain  lowered  his 
voice,  and  kept  talking  in  a  low,  monotonous  tone 
that  helped  the  effect  of  the  sleeping  potion  which, 
unobserved,  he  had  mingled  with  the  ale  in  Harry's 
glass. 

"  I  feel  sleepy,"  said  our  hero,  at  length,  after  mak 
ing  a  desperate  effort  to  keep  awake.  "  It  is  strange, 
so  early  in  the  day." 

"  I  observed  you  found  it  hard  to  keep  awake.  1 
suppose  it  is  the  noise  and  bustle  pf  the  city,  to  which 
you  are  not  accustomed.  I'll  tell  you  what,  my  lad, 
I've  got  a  little  business  to  attend  to  on  deck.  As  I 
shan't  go  back  to  Nassau  Street  for  an  hour  or  two 
Fll  give  you  that  time  for  a  nap." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  Harry,  drowsily.  "  Won't 
Mr.  Fairchild  think  it  strange,  my  being  away  so 
long?" 

"  I'll  make  it  all  right  with  him.  He's  very  good- 
natured.  So  just  lie  down,  and  have  your  nap  out." 

Harry  lay  down,  and  in  two  minutes  his  senses 
vere  locked  in  profound  repose.  Captain  Brandon 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  179 

looked  at  him  with  Hatisfaction  as  he  lay  stretched 
out  before  him. 

u  It  was  a  lucky  thought  of  mine,  the  sleeping 
potion, "  he  said  to  himself.  "  He's  polite  enough, 
but  there's  plenty  of  will  and  determination  about 
him.  I  can  see  that  by  the  cut  of  his  lip.  He  might 
have  made  me  considerable  trouble.  Now,  he's  safe 
to  sleep  eighteen  hours  at  least,  unless  the  druggist 
deceived  me." 

He  went  on  deck,  taking  care,  however,  to  lock  the 
cabin  door  behind  him.  On  the  deck  he  met  Mr, 
Hawkes,  the  mate. 

"Well,  Mr.  Hawkes,"  he  said,  "what  is  the 
prospect  ?  " 

"  I  think  we  shall  get  off  in  an  hour,  Captain 
Brandon." 

"  Good." 

4i  I  didn't  quite  understand  about  the  lad  you  had 
with  you.  Does  he  sail  with  us  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"As  cabin-boy?" 

"  Yes,  but  he  doesn't  know  it." 

"  Ah,  I  see,"  said  Hawkes,  nodding  intelligently. 


180  SINK  OR  SWIM;  r;/z, 

"  His  friends  have  thought  it  best  to  send  him  to 
sea,  but  he  is  obstinate  and  headstrong,  and  might 
make  trouble ;  so  I  agreed  to  manage  it." 

He  briefly  related  the  strategy  of  which  he  had 
made  use.  The  mate  laughed  approvingly. 

"We'll  make  a  sailor  of  him  before  we  get 
through,"  he  said. 

"  No  doubt  of  it." 

Meanwhile  our  hero,  wrapped  in  a  sleep  unnat 
urally  profound,  slumbered  on  happily  unconscious 
of  the  unjustifiable  plot  which  had  been  contrived 
against  him.  On  deck  all  was  bustle  and  hurry. 
The  pilot  was  all  ready  on  board,  the  sailors  were 
hurrying  about  in  obedience  to  the  quick  commands 
of  the  officers,  the  creaking  of  cordage  was  heard, 
and  in  a  short  time  the  Sea  Eagle  had  commenced 
her  voyage.  But  Harry  heard  nothing.  His  slumber 
was  profound.  His  career  as  an  office-boy  was  at 
an  end,  and  after  one  brief  day  in  the  great  city  he 
was  drifting  away  unconsciously  from  home  and 
friends,  in  the  power  of  a  reckless  man,  from  whose 
despotism  there  was  no  appeal. 

t  am    quite  sure    that  my  young  readers  will   all 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  11*501, re.  18} 

sympathize  with  Harry.  His  misfortune  was  in  no 
sense  occasioned  by  his  misconduct.  He  had  left 
home  with  a  firm  determination  to  do  his  duty,  and 
work  his  way  upward  to  a  position  where  he  could  be 
of  service  to  his  mother  and  sister ;  but  all  his  plans 
seemed  disastrously  interrupted. 

But  I  do  not  despair  of  Harry  yet.  Hitherto  his 
course  has  been  smooth,  and  he  has  had  no  opportu 
nity  of  showing  what  he  is.  Difficulties  develop 
strength  of  character,  and  it  is  pretty  clear  that 
Harry  has  got  into  difficulties,  and  those  of  a  seriou* 
kind. 

Will  he  sink  or  awim? 


182  SINK  OR  SWIM; 


CHAPTER    XIX 

HARRY    REALIZES    HIS    POSITION. 

FOR  eighteen  hours  that  long,  unnatural  sleep  held 
cur  hero  in  its  benumbing  grasp.  For  eighteen 
hours  he  lay  utterly  unconscious  of  what  was  passing 
around.  But  at  the  end  of  that  time  sleep  loosened 
As  hold  upon  him.  He  opened  his  eyes  and  looked 
bewildered.  He  was  almost  instantly  made  aware 
that  the  vessel  was  in  motion.  On  standing  up  he 
found  himself  staggering  from  one  side  of  the  cabin 
to  the  other,  for  a  brisk  wind  had  sprung  up,  causing 
considerable  motion  to  the  ship. 

44  Good  heavens ! "  exclaimed  Harry,  in  dismay, 
**  the  vessel  has  started.  What  will  Mr,  Fairchild 
say  ?  He  will  think  I  have  run  away." 

He  blamed  himself  very  much  for  having  fallen 
asleep,  but,  not  yet  suspecting  bad  faith  on  the  cap 
tain's  part,  could  not  understand  why  he  had  not 

been  waked  up  in  time  to  go  on  shore. 
\ 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  188 

He  huiriecl  to  the  cabin  door,  and  tried  to  open  it, 
but  in  vain.  It  was  securely  locked. 

"  What  can  it  mean  ? "  thought  our  hero,  in  utter 
bewilderment. 

He  shook  the  door,  and  called  out  at  the  top  of  his 
voice :  — 

"  Captain  Brandon,  let  me  out !  " 

There  was  no  answer. 

Harry  continued  calling  for  five  minutes,  shaking 
the  door  meanwhile.  At  last,  indignant,  and  for  the 
first  time  suspecting  that  something  was  wrong,  he 
began  to  kick  against  the  panels  violently,  calling 
out:  — 

"  Captain  Brandon  1 " 

This  time  he  received  attention.  Steps  were  heard 
outside,  a  key  was  put  in  the  lock,  and  the  captain 
made  his  appearance. 

44  "What  are  you  kicking  up  such  a  row  about  ?" 
he  demanded,  harshly. 

uHas  the  vessel  sailed?"  asked  Harry,  anxiously. 

"  Yes,  it  has." 

uBut  I  am  not  to  go.  Can't  you  send  me  02? 
shore  ? " 


184  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR* 

The  captain  answered  this  appeal,  with  a  horse 
laugh. 

"  Look  here,  youngster,  how  far  do  you  think  we 
are  from  New  York  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know." 

"  Then  I'll  teU  you.  We  have  sailed  so  far  about 
a  hundred  and  fifty  miles." 

"  A  hundred  and  fifty  miles  !  "  ejaculated  our  hero, 
his  breath  almost  taken  away  at  the  magnitude  of  this 
disaster. 

"  Yes,  a  little  more  than  that  possibly.  Perhaps 
you'd  like  to  have  me  send  you  back  in  a  small 
boat?" 

"  How  long  have  I  been  asleep?"  asked  Harry, 
finding  the  captain's  statement  almost  incredible. 

u  You  went  to  sleep  yesterday  about  noon,  and 
now  it's  the  next  morning." 

"Is  this  true?" 

"  Do  you  dare  to  question  the  truth  of  anything  I 
say,  you  impudent  young  rascal  ? "  said  the  captain, 
fiercely. 

Harry  had  not  got  over  his  bewilderment.  He 
understood  how  he  was  situated,  and  that  his  misfor- 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  185 

tune   was    due    to    the    captain's    neglect    to   wake 
him   up. 

44  Captain  Brandon,"  he  said,  calmly,  u  you  prom 
ised  to  wake  me  up,  and  send  me  on  shore.  Why 
didn't  you  do  it?" 

44  Do  you  think  I'm  going  to  be  catechised  by  such 
a  young  lubber  as  you?"  demanded  Captain  Bran 
don,  with  an  oath. 

44  You've  served  me  a  mean  trick,"  said  Harry 
indignantly,  facing  the  captaii  with  his  youthful 
form  drawn  up,  and  his  face  fl  ished  with  anger. 

44  Young  man,  do  you  know  v  here  you  are  ?  "  said 
the  captain,  sternly. 

44 1  am  where  I  ought  not  to  be.  In  the  cabin  of 
the  Sea  Eagle." 

44  And  do  you  know  who  I  am? " 

44  You  are  the  captain." 

u  You  are  right  there.  I  command  this  vessel,  and 
all  on  board,  and  I  won't  tolerate  any  mutiny  ; "  quali 
fying  the  last  word  with  an  oath. 

"  You  have  no  authority  over  me,  Captain  Bran 
don,"  said  Harry,  proudly.  44  You  have  entrapped 
me  on  board  this  vessel.  I  am  not  here  of  my  own 


186  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

free  will,  and  you  have  no  more  authority  over  me 
than  you  have  over  the  president  of  the  United 
States." 

44  You  think  I  haven't,  eh?  " 
4 1  know  you  have  not,"  said  our  hero,  firmly. 

44  Then  you'll  find  yourself  mistaken,  my  lad  ;  that  § 
all  about  it." 

44  As  long  as  I  am  obliged  to  remain  on  board,  ] 
am  a  passenger,  and  claim  to  be  treated  as  such." 

44  Then  suppose  you  pay  your  fare,"  said  Captain 
Brandon,  with  a  malicious  smile. 

44 1  can't  do  it,  and  I  don't  feel  bound  to,  for  I 
didn't  want  to  come." 

44  You're  mighty  independent,"  sneered  the  cap 
tain  ;  44  and  I  have  no  doubt  it  will  suit  you  excel 
lently  to  get  your  board  and  passage  for  nothing. 
But  I  may  have  something  to  say  to  that." 

44  What  will  Mr.  Fairchild  say  when  I  don't  come 
back?"  said  Harry,  in  a  troubled  voice,  rather  to 
himself  than  with  the  expectation  of  an  answer. 

Captain  Brandon  laughed. 

44  He'll  think  you  have  run  away." 

44  Yes,  I  suppose  he  will,"  said  Harry,  disturbed. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  187 

*4  Of  course  he  will." 

u  And  what  will  my  mother  think  ? "  resumed 
Harry,  sorrowfully. 

uOh,  she'll  think  you've  been  led  away,  and  got 
into  some  scrape  or  other,"  said  the  captain,  lightly. 
"  However,  she'll  see  you  again  in  eighteen  months, 
that  is,  if  we  have  a  fair  voyage." 

u  Eighteen  months ! "  repeated  our  hero,  in  dis 
may. 

"  Yes,  it's  a  long  ways  to  China.  You'll  be  quite  a 
sailor  by  the  end  of  that  time." 

"  I  don't  intend  to  be  a  sailor,"  said  Harry. 

u  Don't  say  that  again,  you  impudent  young  scoun 
drel.  Do  you  think  I  will  let  my  cabin-boy  address 
me  in  that  style  ?  " 

"I  am  not  your  cabin-boy,"  said  Harry,  indig 
nantly. 

"  That's  your  mistake.  You've  got  to  work  your 
passage.  I  shan't  allow  any  skulkers  aboard  this 
ship." 

This  speech,  as  well  as  most  of  the  captain's,  was 
garnished  with  oaths,  which  I  choose  to  omit,  thougfi 
at  the  risk  of  conveying  an  inadequate  idea  of  his 


SINK   OR    SWIM;    OR, 

brutality  and  coarseness.  Our  hero  was  greatly  ex 
asperated  at  the  mean  plot  which  had  beeu  concocted 
against  him,  and  being  of  a  fearless  temperament 
would  have  given  full  and  free  expression  to  his 
indignation,  and  a  scene  of  violence  would  no  doubt 
have  resulted,  but  for  the  opportune  entrance  of  Mr. 
Weldon,  the  supercargo. 

Mr.  Weldon  was  a  young  man,  not  over  twenty- 
five,  a  nephew  of  the  owner  of  the  vessel,  and  had 
been  sent  out  as  supercargo,  with  the  intention  of 
remaining  in  China  for  two  or  three  years  in  a  branch 
establishment  of  his  uncle's  house.  On  account  of 
his  connection  with  the  firm  by  whom  he  was  em 
ployed,  Captain  Brandon  found  it  prudent  to  treat 
him  with  more  respect  than  in  ordinary  circumstances 
he  would  have  paid  to  the  supercargo. 

"  Good-morning,  Captain  Brandon,"  said  the 
young  man. 

44  Good-morning,  Mr.  Weldon,"  said  Brandon, 
•moothing  his  face,  and  lowering  his  arm,  which  had 
been  raised  to  strike  Harry.  u  How  do  you  feel  this 
morning?" 

"  Not  sea-sick  as  yet ;  but  I  don't  know  how  soon 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVR.  189 

It  may  be  on.  I  am  in  no  hurry  for  it,  I  can  assure 
you.  But  who  is  this  young  gentleman? " 

"  You  are  joking,  Mr.  Weldon,"  said  the  captain. 
44  We  don't  usually  address  cabin-boys  as  young  gen 
tlemen  on  board  ship." 

"Is  he  your  cabin-boy?"  asked  Weldon,  in  sur 
prise  ;  for  Harry  was  not,  it  will  be  remembered, 
dressed  in  sailor  rig. 

"  No,  I  am  not,"  said  Harry,  boldly. 

"  Shut  up ! "  said  the  captain,  sharply,  with  a 
threatening  look.  "  He's  a  headstrong  young  rascal, 
whom  his  friends  have  placed  in  my  charge,  with 
intentions  to  make  a  sailor  of  him." 

"  That  is  not  true.  I  was  trapped  on  board  this 
vessel,"  said  our  hero. 

"  I  used  a  little  stratagem,  knowing  that  I  would 
have  trouble  otherwise,"  said  the  captain,  who  would 
not  have  deigned  any  explanation  to  any  other  than 
the  nephew  of  his  employer,  in  whose  estimation  he 
wished  to  stand  well.  "  But  now  he's  on  board,  I 
shall  carry  out  the  wishes  of  his  friends,  and  he  will 
find  it  for  his  interest  not  to  make  any  trouble,"  he 


190  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

added,  with  a  significant  look  directed  towards  our 
hero. 

At  this  moment  the  captain  was  summoned  to  the 
deck,  and  Harry  found  himself  alone  with  the  super 
cargo. 

"  Mr.  Weldon,"  said  our  hero,  suddenly,  making 
up  his  mind  to  secure  the  young  man  as  a  friend  if 
possible,  "  do  you  go  with  us  to  China  ?  " 

"  Yes,  my  boy." 

"  Will  you  be  my  friend?" 

Such  an  appeal,  coming  from  a  frank,  manly  boy, 
was  not  easily  to  be  resisted. 

Mr.  Weldon  took  the  hand  so  frankly  offered,  and 
said :  — 

"  I  will  be  your  friend.  I  believe  you  are  a  good 
boy." 

"Don't  believe  what  Captain  Brandon  has  told 
you.  It  is  absolutely  false.  I  never  saw  or  heard 
of  him  till  two  days  since,  and  he  does  not  know  any 
of  my  Mends.  He  induced  me  to  come  on  board 
this  ship  on  false  pretences,  and  I  think  must  have 
given  me  something  to  make  me  sleep,  for  I  became 


FiATtfiY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE,  191 

sleep}-  at  once,  and  have  slept,  as  he  tells  me,  ever 
since  yesterday  noon." 

"  This  is  a  strange  story.  What  can  be  his 
object  ? " 

•4 1  don't  know  that ;  but  he  has  got  me  into  his 
power,  and  I  need  a  friend." 

44  What  is  your  name?" 

Ci  Harry  Raymond." 

""  Then.  Harry,"  said  the  young  man,  warmly 
pressing  his  hand,  "  I  will  be  that  friend.  If  what 
yon  say  is  true,  you  have  been  badly  treated.  I 
think  I  have  some  influence  over  Captain  Brandon, 
for  he  is  in  the  employ  of  my  uncle's  firm.  That 
influence  shall  be  exerted  in  your  favor." 

iw  Thank  you,  Mr.  Weldon,"  said  Harry,  gratefully 

*'  I  wish  you  would  tell  me  a  little  more  about 
yourself  that  I  may  understand  your  position  fully 
If  the  captain  comes  down,  you  can  suspend  your 
story  till  another  time." 

4k  First.  I  want  to  ask  your  advice  on  one  point," 
said  Harry. 

"What  is  that?" 


192  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

"The  captain  claims  that  I  must  work  my  passage 
as  cabin-boy.  What  shall  I  do  ?  " 

"  Have  you  a  great  objection  to  the  duties  of  a 
cabin-boy  ?  " 

"  I  would  not  have  come  on  board  the  vessel  of  my 
own  free  will.  I  don't  like  to  be  forced  into  going  in 
such  a  position." 

"  That  is  a  natural  feeling ;  but  I  am  not  sure 
whether  it  will  not  be  best  to  yield  in  the  present 
instance.  A  captain  on  board  of  his  own  vessel  is  a 
monarch,  and  has  almost  supreme  power.  This  is 
very  often  abused ;  but  I  suppose  it  is  necessary  that 
he  should  possess  it.  I  don't  know  what  sort  of  a 
man  this  Captain  Brandon  is  ;  but  you  had  better  not 
needlessly  provoke  him.  Besides,  I  suppose  you 
wish  to  be  earning  something,  and,  as  cabin-boy,  you 
will  be  entitled  to  wages." 

44  Suppose  the  captain  should  ill-treat  me?" 

u  I  will  stand  your  friend,"  said  the  supercargo, 
earnestly. 

44  Then,"  said  Harry,  after  a  moment's  thought, 
44 1  will  not  oppose  the  captain's  wishes.  I  will  do 
my  duty,  but  I  won't  submit  to  be  imposed  upon." 


fi.irrr  !>.<Ykroxr>'$  xxsoLi'K.  193 

The  entrance  of  the  captain  at  this  point  prevented 
our  hero  from  communicating  the  details  of  his  story 
to  his  oew  friend 


194  SINK  OR  SWIM;  on. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

HARRY  GETS  INTO  TROUBLE. 

CAPTAIN  BRANDON  entered  the  cabin,  carrying 
under  his  arm  a  cabin  -boy's  suit. 

"  It's  time  you  entered  upon  your  duties,"  he  said, 
"  Put  on  these  clothes." 

He  expected  a  renewal  of  Harry's  remonstrances ; 
but  our  hero  had  made  up  his  mind  what  to  do.  It 
was  no  use  crying  over  spilt  milk.  Since  he  was  on 
board  the  Sea  Eagle,  however  much  against  his  will, 
he  would  make  the  best  of  a  disagreeable  position. 
He  had  confidence  in  the  judgment  and  friendship  of 
the  supercargo,  whom  he  liked,  notwithstanding  their 
brief  acquaintance,  and  he  resolved  to  accept  the 
situation,  and  do  his  best  in  it.  When,  therefore, 
the  captain  held  out  the  cabin-boy's  suit,  Harry  took 
it  quietly,  asking :  — 

"  Where  shall  I  put  it  on?" 

"You    can    put    it    on   here,"    said  the    captain, 


/-,'  A  K  X  ¥    H  A  YMUN  OS    RE  S  O  LVE.  \  'd  0 

looking  a i  him  curioasly.  Remembering  the  state 
of  liery  indignation  which  our  hero  displayed  a  few 
minutes  before,  he  was  not  prepared  for  this  quiet 
acquiescence. 

*4  So  you've  changed  your  mind,  have  you?"  tie 
asked. 

u  No,  Captain  Brandon,"  answered  Harry,  firmly. 
"  I  have  been  treacherously  entrapped  on  board  this 
vessel,  and  I  remain  here  against  my  will ;  but  as 
long  as  I  stay  I  may  as  well  have  something  to  do. 
I  will  act  as  cabin-boy,  and  shall  expect  to  receive  a 
cabin-boy's  wages." 

"  Well,  I'm  glad  you've  turned  sensible,"  said 
Brandon.  "  It  would  have  been  the  worse  for  you  if 
you  hadn't." 

"  I  don't  intend  to  deceive  you  as  to  my  inten 
tions,  Captain  Brandon."  continued  Harry,  boldly. 
v%  I  mean  to  leave  this  ship  the  first  chance  I  get." 

•k  That  won't  be  very  soon,"  sneered  Brandon ; 
14  as  I  don't  expect  to  stop  anywhere  till  I  reach 
China.  If  you  want  to  leave  me  there,  1  shan't  take 
any  great  pains  to  catch  you." 


196  sitfs:  on  SWIM;  OH. 

By  this  time  Harry  had  changed  his  clothes,  and 
had  all  the  appearance  of  a  young  sailor. 

"  Now  go  and  report  yourself  to  the  mate,"  said 
Captain  Brandon. 

Harry  left  the  cabin,  and  went  up  on  deck.  ,  He 
saw  and  recognized  the  man  to  whom  the  captain  had 
spoken  the  day  before,  and  walked  up  to  him. 

kt  1  believe  you  are  the  mate,  sir,"  he  said. 

"  Well,  my  lad,  and  who  are  you  ?     The  new  cabin 
boy?" 

"•  Yes,  sir.  The  captain  ordered  me  to  report  to 
you/' 

4*  Tom  Patch!"  said  the  mate,  calling  one  of  the 
sailors  near  by. 

Tom  Patch  came  forward,  hitching  up  his  pants,  as 
he  advanced  with  a  regular  sailor's  roll.  He  had  a 
short,  square-built  figure,  and  a  face  bronzed  by 
exposure  to  the  suns  of  every  clime.  But  his  expres 
sion  was  honest  and  intelligent,  not  brutish  and 
stupid,  as  is  the  case  with  many  who  have  followed 
the  sea  for  years  without  rising  above  the  position  of 
a  common  sailor. 

"  Show  him  his  hunk.  Pav-h,  aud  break  him  in.w 


Afff-tr  K.-iYMo*rr*'s  /tssoLrx.  197 


u  Ay.  ay,  sir/'  said  Patch,  turning  to  Harry,  whom 
he  surveyed  with  interest. 

"  Come  with  nie,  my  lad,"  he  said. 

They  descended  into  the  forecastle,  where  Harry 
was  assigned  a  bunk  near  that  of  the  sailor  under 
whose  care  he  had  been  placed. 

"  You're  a  green  hand,  I  reckon,  my  lad,"  said 
Tom. 

u  Yes,"  said  our  hero. 

"  Well,  I'm  glad  you're  going  to  sea.  I  don't  see 
how  folks  can  be  contented  to  live  on  shore/' 

"Do  you  mean  that?"  asked  Harry,  rather 
amused. 

"  Of  course  I  do." 

"  Then  I  don't  agree  with  you.  I'd  rather  be  on 
land." 

44  Mayhap  you've  been  seasick.  You'll  get  over  it 
soon,  and  then  you'll  find  it  jolly." 

"  No,  I  have  not  been  sick  ;  but  I  don't  like  the 
sea." 

"Then  what  brought  you  here?"  said  Tom,  in 
natural  wonder. 

'  Captain  Brandon.     He  served  me  a  mean  trick  * 


198  .S/ATT  OR  SWIM;  oj*, 

"  Avast  there,  iny  lad ! "  said  Tom,  lowering  hib 
voice,  and  looking  around  him  significantly.  u  It 
aiut  best  to  talk  ag*in  the  cap'n,  leastways  so  he  can 
hear." 

kk  I'm  not  afraid,"  said  our  hero,  firmly.  "  I  told 
him  so  myself." 

"What's  that?"  asked  Tom,  incredulously. 

"  I  told  Captain  Brandon  he  haa  served  me  a  mean 
trick." 

"  And  he  knocked  3^011  down  with  a  bel  ay  ing-pin  ?  " 
suggested  Tom. 

"  No,  he  didn't,"  said  Harry,  quietly. 

"  Then  you  got  off  easy.  Better  not  say  it  ag*in, 
my  lad." 

"  It's  true." 

"  Never  mind  that.  It  aint  best  to  tell  the  truth 
at  all  times.  You  shall  spin  me  the  yarn  some  time 
when  we  are  snugly  stowed  away  out  of  earshot, 
my  lad.  Now  we  must  go  to  work." 

Harry  accompanied  Tom  to  the  deck,  and  his 
experience  as  a  sailor  commenced. 

I  do  not  propose  to  give  a  detailed  account  of 
vrhat  these  duties  were,  as  this  does  nc  ~>  profess  to 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVK.  199 

be  i  sea-story,  and  will  touch  the  sea  only  so  far  as 
it  may  prove  necessary  to  make  Harry's  position 
understood.  Days  passed  away,  and  in  accordance 
with  the  resolution  he  had  formed  our  hero  attended 
strictly  to  duty.  Being  a  smart  boy,  he  very  soon 
mastered  the  details  of  his  duties,  and  discharged 
them  in  such  a  manner  that  no  fault  could  justly  be 
found  with  him.  But  Captain  Brandon  continued 
to  view  him  with  an  eye  of  suspicion.  He  had  not 
forgotten  nor  forgiven  the  bold  and  defiant  manner 
in  which  Harry  had  expressed  himself  when  he  first 
realized  that  he  had  been  entrapped  on  board  the 
Sea  Eagle.  He  blamed  himself  now  that  he  had 
not  inflicted  a  humiliating  punishment  upon  Harry 
at  the  time,  and  he  carefully  scrutinized  his  conduct 
in  order  to  find  a  pretext  for  paying  off  the  old 
soore. 

But  Harry  thus  far  gave  him  no  opportunity.  He 
had  not  made  any  complaints  against  the  captain  to 
any  one  except  Tom  Patch,  to  whom  he  told  his 
whole  story,  winning  the  stout-hearted  sailor's  sym 
pathy  and  friendship.  Thus  Harry  felt  that  he  had 
one  friend  on  the  vessel ;  nay,  two,  for  the  super- 


200  SINK  on  SWIM;  OJR, 

cargo,  of  whom  mention  has  already  been  made, 
had  by  no  means  forgotten  the  promise  he  made  to 
our  hero  to  be  his  friend.  He  frequently  approached 
him  when  at  work,  and  conversed  with  him  in  a 
pleasa  it  manner,  as  with  an  equal,  never  putting  on 
an  air  of  condescension,  as  some  in  his  position 
would  have  done. 

This  intimacy  and  evident  good  feeling  between 
the  supercargo  and  our  hero,  Captain  Brandon  saw 
with  dissatisfaction.  He  had  tried  to  cultivate  an 
ntimacy  with  Mr.  Weldon  himself,  from  motives 
of  policy,  on  account  of  his  relationship  to  the 
owner  of  the  ship,  and  the  probability  that  he 
would  some  day  be  himself  a  member  of  the  firm ; 
but  it  had  not  taken  the  supercargo  long  to  ascertain 
the  real  character  of  the  captain,  in  which  he  found 
very  little  to  attract  him.  So,  though  he  treated 
Captain  Brandon  with  scrupulous  civility,  there  was 
a  ooolness  in  his  manner  which  effectually  precluded 
any  degree  of  intimacy.  The  captain  saw  this  and 
chafed  at  it.  It  humiliated  him,  yet  he  could  not 
resent  it.  The  young  man  was  studiously  polite 
and  respectful,  and  gave  him  no  cause  for  complaint. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  201 

But  he  saw  tliat  his  ceremonious  politeness  melted 
away  when  he  spoke  to  Harry  Raymond  whom  he 
addressed  in  a  cordial,  kindly  manner  which  bespoke 
friendship.  Captain  Brandon  brooded  over  this, 
being  of  a  jealous,  suspicious  temper,  and  resolved, 
on  the  first  occasion  that  presented  itself,  to  take 
T^n stance  upon  Harry,  and  thus  at  once  gratify  hi* 
dislike  for  oaf  hero  and  the  supercargo. 

There  was  another  member  of  the  ship's  crew 
whom  it  will  be  necessary  to  introduce. 

This  was  Jack  Rodman,  a  boy  somewhat  older 
than  Harry,  and  as  different  from  our  hero  as  can 
well  be  imagiiifed.  He  was  coarse,  ignorant,  and 
vicious,  and  could  swear  with  as  great  fluency  as 
any  sailor  twice  his  age.  He  made  at  first  some 
approaches  to  intimacy  with  our  hero,  but  Harry 
was  too  disgusted  with  what  he  had  seen  of  him 
to  care  much  about  striking  up  a  friendship.  On 
this  account  Jack  bore  a  grudge  against  our  hero, 
and  would  have  played  some  mischievous  trick  upon 
him  but  for  Tom  Patch's  evident  friendship  for 
Harry.  Jack  was  afraid  of  the  stout  sailo*,  and 


^02  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

felt  compelled  to  effect  his  object  in  an  underhand 
manner. 

Among  the  peculiarities  of  Captain  Brandon's 
appearance  was  a  very  long  nose,  which,  however 
useful  it  might  be  to  the  owner,  was  far  from 
ornamental.  Brandon  was  aware  of  the  promi 
nence  of  this  feature,  and  felt  sensitive  about  it. 
As  a  boy  he  had  been  annoyed  by  the  jocose  allu 
sions  of  his  school-fellows  to  it,  and  nothing  dis 
turbed  his  temper  more  now  than  any  reference  to 
it,  or  even  a  significant  glance  at  it.  Jack  Rodman 
had  observed  this  peculiarity  in  the  captain,  and 
determined  to  take  advantage  of  it  in  order  to  get 
Harry  into  trouble. 

One  night,  unobserved  as  he  supposed,  he  drew 
with  a  piece  of  chalk  a  rude  caricature  of  the  cap 
tain's  face,  in  a  part  of  the  vessel  where  it  would  be 
likely  to  be  seen  by  Brandon.  The  size  of  the  nose 
was  exaggerated,  but  there  was  also  in  the  other 
features  a  general  resemblance  to  the  captain,  so 
that  it  was  quite  evident  who  was  meant. 

Jack  supposed  that  he  was  unobserved,  and  so  he 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  205 

might  have  been  but  for  the  accidental  approach  of 
the  supercargo. 

Mr.  Weldon  glanced  at  vt  hat  Jack  was  doing,  and 
a  smile  came  to  his  face.  He  was  rather  amused 
by  the  caricature,  and,  having  no  very  particular 
regard  for  the  captain,  passed  on  in  silence,  not 
feeling  called  upon  to  interfere. 

The  next  morning  Captain  Brandon,  in  pacing 
the  deck,  suddenly  came  face  to  face  with  the  carica 
ture,  which  had  not  been  effaced. 

Instantly  the  blood  rushed  to  his  faco.  He  could 
see  the  resemblance  himself;  and  that  made  the 
matter  worse.  He  felt  that  it  was  an  insult  to  him, 
and  he  determined  to  visit  condign  punishment  upon 
the  perpetrator  of  the  insulting  joke,  if  he  could  find 
him  out. 

"  Who  did  this?  "  he  roared  out,  at  the  top  of  his 
voice. 

The  vehemence  of  his  tone  attracted  general 
attention.  The  sailors  looked  at  one  another,  and 
exchanged  sly  glances  indicative  of  amusement. 

"Who  did  this?"  exclaimed  the  captain,  again, 
stamping  in  rage. 


204  SMK  OR  SWIM;  o«, 

Nobody  answered. 

**  Why  don't  you  answer,  some  of  you  ;  "  con- 
tinned  the  angry  captain.  "  Point  out  the  man,  and 
I'll  flog  him  till  he  can't  stand." 

Even  this  inducement  was  not  sufficient  to  extract 
the  name  of  the  culprit. 

Captain  Brandon  resolved  to  use  other  mez«ns. 

"I'll  give  five  dollars  to  the  man  wh.,11  tell  m© 
who  drew  this  figure." 

Jack  Rodman  came  on  deck  jiu>*  as  this  offer  was 
made.  His  eyes  sparkled  witu  joy.  He  not  only 
had  it  in  his  power  to  get  Harry  into  trouble,  but  he 
would  be  rewarded  for  doing  it.  This  was  more  than 
he  had  bargained  for,  but  Jack  reflected  that  the 
money  would  be  very  acceptable  to  him  when  he 
got  on  shore. 

"  I  know  who  did  it,  Captain  Brandon,"  he  said, 
touching  his  hat. 

"  Ah  ! "  said  the  captain,  turning  towards  Jack. 
"  Tell  me  at  once,  then." 

"  He  did  it,"  said  Jack,  pointing  out  Harry,  who, 
like  the  rest,  was  an  interested  spectator  of  the 
scene. 


GARjRY   RAYMOND'S    RESOLVE.  205 

v*  DU  he  do  it?"  growled  Brandon,  looking  men- 
fttnugly  at  our  hero. 

•  YfrS,  1  saw  him  do  it." 
When  did  he  do  it?" 

'*  I.urftt  evening." 

By  vf*-«*  time  Harry,  who  had  been  struck  dumb 
by  thvi  suddenness  of  the  accusation,  and  the 
evident  aalice  of  Jack,  recovered  himself,  and  said 
boldly  -. 

u  Cap-  lin  Brandon,  that  is  a  lie,  and  Jack  Rod 
man  km  ws  it  is.  I  know  nothing  of  the  figure, 
and  had  nothing  to  do  with  it." 

kk  I  saw  you  do  it,"  said  Jack,  with  a  malicious 
grin. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  he  did  it,"  -said  the  captain, 
furiously.  tk  Strip  him,  and  we'll  give  him  a  taste 
of  the  lash." 


206  SINK  OB  SWIM; 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

AN    UNEXPECTED    VICTORY. 

THE  captain's  order  was  a  general  one  and 
addressed  to  no  one  in  particular.  The  sailors  stood 
still,  therefore,  till  the  captain  exclaimed  again, 
stamping  fiercely :  — 

"  Seize  him,  I  say,  and  strip  him." 

With  a  grin  of  enjoyment  Jack  Rodman  started 
forward,  and  prepared  to  obey  the  captain's  com 
mand.  He  expected  to  be  supported  by  others  of 
the  crew,  but  found  himself  alone.  Still  he  was 
taller  and  stouter  than  Harry,  and  felt  confident  of 
an  easy  victory  over  him. 

When  our  hero  saw  him  approach,  he  said,  in  a 
cool,  collected  manner,  by  no  means  intimidated  by 
the  prospect  of  a  conflict  with  his  superior  in  size :  — 

"  Stand  off,  Jack  Rodman,  if  you  know  what's 
good  for  yourself  I " 


HARRY  RAYMONDS    RESOLVE.  207 

u  What  can  you  do?  "  sneered  Jack  ;  and  he  gavt 
a  glance  at  the  captain  for  encouragement. 

"  Give  him  a  thrashing  !  "  said  the  captain,  antici 
pating  with  pleasure  the  utter  discomfiture  of  Harry , 
who,  so  far  as  appearances  went,  was  decidedly  the 
weaker  of  the  two.  But  appearances  are  sometimes 
deceitful,  and  Jack  Rodman  would  not  have  been  by 
any  means  so  confident  of  an  easy  victory,  had  h€ 
been  aware  that  our  hero,  as  previously  stated,  was 
no  mean  proficient  in  the  art  of  self-defence,  having 
been  initiated  in  the  science  of  boxing  by  a  young 
man  from  New  York,  who  spent  a  summer  in  Vernon. 

u  A  ring  !  a  ring  ! "  shouted  the  sailors.  "  Let  'em 
have  it  out !  " 

No  opposition  being  made  by  the  officers,  the  crew 
at  once  formed  a  ring  round  the  two  combatants.  A 
few  of  the  more  generous  sympathized  with  the 
"  little  one,"  as  they  called  Harry ;  but  with  the 
majority  there  was  no  particular  sentiment,  except  a 
desire  to  see  the  fight,  with  no  preference  for  either 
party.  Prominent  in  the  ring  was  Tom  Patch, 
Harry's  friend.  His  honest,  bronzed  face  was  shad 
owed  by  anxiety,  for  hes  like  the  rest,  had  no  doubt 


208  SINK  OB  SWIM;  OR, 

that  Harry  would  get  whipped.  He  longed  to  have  a 
part  in  the  fray,  and  take  his  side  by  his  young 
friend ;  but  that,  of  course,  could  not  be  allowed. 

"It's  a  shame,"  he  muttered.  "It  aint  a  fair 
match.  Jack's  twenty  pounds  heavier  than  the  little 
one." 

"Let  'em  fight  it  out!  Who  cares  which  geta 
whipped  ?  "  said  the  next  sailor. 

"  I  do,"  said  Tom.  "  The  little  fellow's  a  good 
one,  and  I  don't  believe  he  made  the  figger." 

"  Silence,  men ! "  exclaimed  the  captain,  in  an 
authoritative  voice.  "  Pitch  into  him,  boy,  and  mind 
you  give  him  a  sound  flogging,  or  you'll  get  one 
yourself." 

Jack  did  not  need  to  be  urged  on.  He  had  an  un 
reasoning  and  unreasonable  hatred  to  our  hero,  whom 
he  instinctively  felt  to  be  his  superior  in  every  way 
but  one,  though  he  did  not  choose  to  acknowledge  it , 
that  was  in  physical  strength,  in  which  he  felt  con 
fident  that  he  excelled  Harry.  He  accordingly  ad 
vanced  in  a  blustering  way,  confident  of  an  easy 
victory,  swinging  his  fists  in  an  unscientific  way. 

Harry  awaited  his  approach  calmly,  quietly  put- 


I  A; 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  209 

ting  himself  in  the  proper  attitude  of  defence.  With 
his  fists  doubled  up,  prepared  for  action,  and  one  foot 
advanced  before  the  other,  he  stood,  watching  warily 
the  demonstrations  of  his  antagonist.  Jack  did  not 
comprehend  the  meaning  of  this  preparation,  and  con 
tinued  to  advance  with  rash  confidence  in  his  owb 
prowess.  He  made  a  fierce  lunge  at  our  hero,  not  tak 
ing  care  to  protect  himself  against  assault.  The  con 
sequence  was,  that  while  Harry  parried  the  blow  with 
one  hand,  with  the  other  he  planted  a  smart  return 
blow  in  Rodman's  face,  which,  striking  his  nose, 
drew  blood. 

There  was  a  shout  of  applause,  mingled  with  sur 
prise,  at  this  unexpected  turning  of  the  tables. 

"Good  for  you!"  "I  bet  on  the  little  one  I" 
"  He's  got  pluck !  "  was  heard  from  the  sailors. 

Perhaps  the  most  astonished  person  on  deck  was 
Jack  Rodman  himself.  Evidently  he  had  made  some 
mistake  in  his  calculations.  He  had  gone  in  for  an 
easy  victory,  and  expected  that  his  first  blow  would 
prove  a  crusher.  But,  instead  of  this,  his  own  nose 
was  bleeding,  and  his  small  antagonist  stood  facing 
him,  as  cool  and  composed  as  if,  instead  of  beiiyj  an 


210  SINK  OR  SWIM;  GJZ, 

actor  in  the  contest,  he  had  only  been  an  indifferent 
spectator. 

How  did  it  all  happen?  That  was  what  puzzled 
Jack.  He  took  a  fresh  look  at  Harry,  to  make  sure 
that  he  was  right  in  his  first  impression,  as  to  his 
inferior  size  and  strength. 

"Give  it  to  him,  Jack!  Don't  let  him  get  the 
best  of  you ! "  called  out  a  backer. 

"  No,  I  won't,"  growled  Jack.  "  I'll  chaw  him 
up." 

Our  hero  listened  to  this  threat  without  being  dis 
composed.  He  had  made  a  critical  survey  of  his 
antagonist,  and  formed  an  estimate  of  his  ability 
He  saw  that  Jack  was  his  superior  in  strength,  and 
if  they  should  come  to  a  close  contest  that  he  would 
get  the  worst  of  it.  But  he  saw  also  that  of  scientific 
fighting  Jack  knew  nothing.  His  course  was  to  keep 
him  at  arm's  length,  and  conduct  the  contest  on 
scientific  principles. 

Jack  rushed  in  again  with  the  same  headlong  pre 
cipitation  as  before,  and  his  reception  was  about  the 
same  as  before.  This  time  our  hero  planted  a  blow 
In  his  kft  eye,  which  caused  Jack  to  stagger  back 


fJARRY  RAYMONDS   RESOLVE.  2iJ 

with  a  howl  of  dismay  and  rage.  By  this  time  his 
blood  was  up,  and  he  was  driven  on  by  a  kind  of 
blind  fury,  aggravated  by  the  mortification  he  expe 
rienced  at  being  worsted  by  a  smaller  boy  in  presence 
of  the  ship's  crew.  His  reputation  was  at  stake. 
He  knew  that  if  he  retired  from  the  contest  defeated, 
he  would  never  hear  the  last  of  it.  A  coward  and  a 
bully  by  nature,  he  never  would  have  made  the  first 
attack,  had  he  anticipated  that  Harry  would  prove 
so  powerful  an  antagonist ;  but  now  he  was  in  for 
it  his  blood  was  up,  and  he  determined,  as  the  boys 
say,  "  to  go  in  and  win." 

He  made  another  furious  dash,  and  tried  hard  to 
seize  Harry  around  the  middle,  when  he  would  have 
found  it  an  easy  task,  in  consequence  of  his  superior 
strength,  to  throw  him  down,  and  take  vengeance 
upon  him  for  the  personal  damages  he  had  already 
received.  But  our  hero  understood  very  well  his 
purpose,  and  braced  himself  for  what  he  instinctively 
felt  would  be  the  final  contest.  He  eluded  the  grasp 
of  his  furious  adversary,  and  planted  two  blows  quick 
as  lightning,  one  in  his  breast,  the  other  in  his  face. 
While  Jack  was  staggering  under  them,  he  gathered 


212  sa^fK  on  SWIM;  OA, 

up  Lis  strength,  and  put  it  all  into  one  final  blow, 
which  finished  the  work  effectually.  Jack  fell  OB 
^ieck  heavily,  and  so  bewildered  was  he  that  he  lay 
there  motionless,  and  did  not  at  first  attempt  to 
rise. 

This  quite  turned  the  tide  in  favor  of  our  hero. 
Sailors  admire  pluck,  especially  when  it  is  shown  by 
a  little  fellow  contending  against  odds.  There  was  a 
chorus  of  approving  exclamations,  expressed  in  the 
characteristic  sailor  dialect,  and  Harry,  standing  in 
the  centre  of  the  ring,  his  face  flushed  with  the  excite 
ment  of  the  contest,  was  transformed  in  the  eyes  of 
all  into  a  hero.  The  most  delighted  of  all  was  Tom 
Patch,  who  swung  his  hat,  and  called  out  for  three 
cheers  for  the  victor.  The  result  was  the  more  grat 
ifying  to  him,  because  wholly  unexpected.  The 
supercargo,  also,  standing  aloof  from  the  ring,  had 
witnessed  tne  contest,  and  his  sympathies  also  had 
been  with  our  hero,  for  he  had  already  formed  an 
opinion  far  from  favorable  of  Jack  Rodman,  whom 
ae  had  another  reason  for  not  liking. 

But  there  was  one  to  whom  the  result  of  the  con 
test  was  in  the  highest  degree  unsatisfactory.  This 


HARRY  RAYMOND9 8   RESVLTE.  213 

was  Captain  Brandon.  He  had  been  far  from  antici 
pating  such  a  denouement,  and  a  frown  gathered 
on  his  face. 

"  Get  up,  and  try  it  again  !  "  he  said  to  Jack. 

But  Jack  Rodman  had  had  enough  of  it.  The  last 
five  minutes  had  enlightened  him  considerably  on  the 
subject  of  Harry's  prowess,  and  he  did  not  care  to 
trust  himself  again  in  his  hands.  Besides,  his  nose  was 
damaged,  and  his  eye  swollen,  and  he  felt  decidedly 
worse  for  the  exercise  he  had  just  taken.  Accord 
ingly  he  intimated  that  he  did  not  feel  very  well, 
and  positively  refused  to  renew  the  fight. 

"  All  right !  "  growled  Captain  Brandon.  "  IV*  got 
an  account  to  settle  with  the  boy  myself.  He  may 
not  get  off  so  easily  out  of  my  hands.  Men,  go  back 
to  your  work." 

At  the  captain's  word  of  command  the  ring  was 
broken,  and  the  sailors  returned  to  the  duties  v-hich 
had  been  interrupted  by  the  contest  that  has  just 
been  described. 

"  Now,  you  young  rascal,"  said  Captain  Bran  'on, 
menacingly,  "what  did  you  mean  by  that 


jil-j  SIWK  OR  SWIM;  OR. 

ture  ?  "  filling  up  the  blank  with  an  oath,  with  which 
I  do  not  choose  to  soil  this  page. 

"  I  have  already  told  you,  Captain  Brandon,"  said 
Harry,  firmly,  "  that  I  had  nothing  to  do  with  the 
drawing." 

44  It's  a  lie !  "  said  the  captain,  hoarsely. 

44  It's  the  truth,"  repeated  Harry,  glancing  com 
posedly  at  the  face  of  Captain  Brandon,  distorted 
with  rage. 

44  Do  you  dare  to  contradict  me?"  exclaimed  the 
captain,  furiously. 

44 1  contradict  no  one,"  said  Harry.  44 1  only  say 
that  I  had  nothing  to  do  with  that  picture.  I  did 
not  see  it  till  this  morning,  a  short  time  before  you 
charged  me  with  it." 

44  Your  lie  shan't  save  you  I "  exclaimed  Captain 
Brandon.  44  I'll  take  you  in  hand  myself,  and  we'll 
see  who'll  come  off  best." 

Harry  turned  pale.  He  knew  that  he  was  no  match 
for  a  grown  man,  and  he  saw  that  in  the  present 
state  of  the  captain's  temper  he  was  likely  to  suffer 
severely.  That  he  should  dread  the  treatment  he 
was  likely  to  receive  was  only  natural,  but  he 


HARRY    RAYMONDS    JRESOLVS.  215 

showed  no  outward  fear,  gave  in  the  paleness  of  his 
cheeks.  He  stood  manfully,  with  his  lips  compressed, 
waiting  for  the  attack.  But  help  came  to  him  from 
an  unexpected  quarter. 

44  Stop  one  moment,  Captain  Brandon ! "  said  the 
supercargo,  and  there  was  a  tone  of  authority  in  the 
young  man's  voice. 

The  captain  turned. 

"  Mr.  Weldon,"  he  said,  "  this  is  no  affair  of  yours 
I  will  thank  you  to  attend  to  your  own  business." 

kl  Captain  Brandon,  you  are  about  to  punish  this 
boy  for  nothing." 

u Do  you  call  that  nothing?"  asked  the  captain, 
indicating  the  caricature. 

"  He  had  no  hand  in  it." 

•*  So  he  says." 

"  He  tells  the  truth." 

"Perhaps  you  can  tell  me  who  drew  it,  then?" 
sneered  the  captain. 

"  I  can." 

For  one  moment  the  captain  thought  that  the 
supercargo  might  himself  have  been  implicated ;  but 
he  saw  that  this  was  absurd 


216  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

"  Who  did  it,  then?" 

"  The  boy  he  was  fighting  with,  —  Jack  Rodman/' 

"  Are  you  sure  of  this?  "  demanded  the  captain,  in 
amazement. 

"  Yes  ;  I  saw  him  myself  engaged  upon  it  last  even 
ing.  I  would  not  have  betrayed  him,  had  he  not 
tried  to  implicate  an  innocent  party." 

Captain  Brandon  knew  not  what  to  think.  He  could 
not  doubt  the  supercargo's  word  after  this  positive 
statement,  nor  could  he  proceed  to  punish  Harry  for 
a  fault  which,  as  it  appeared,  he  had  not  committed. 
Yet,  strange  as  it  may  appear,  he  felt  more  incensed 
against  Harry,  who  was  proved  to  be  innocent,  than 
against  Jack  Rodman,  whom  he  knew  to  be  guilty. 
He  could  not  help  wishing  that  he  had  not  been  told 
the  truth  of  the  matter  until  he  had  inflicted  punish 
ment  upon  our  hero. 

In  return  for  the  supercargo's  explanation,  he  did 
not  reply  a  word,  but,  turning  on  his  heel,  descended 
the  companion-way  to  the  cabin,  where  he  kept  him 
self  for  the  next  two  or  three  hours.  After  he  had 
left  the  deck,  Harry  went  up  to  the  supercargo,  ar  1 
in  a  frank  way  said  :  — 


RK s OLVE.  2 1 T 

"  J  cannot  tell  you,  Mr.  Weldon,  how  much  I  am 
obliged  to  you  for  coming  to  my  defence." 

u  I  told  you  I  would  stand  your  friend  when  you 
stood  in  need  of  one."  said  the  young  man,  kindly. 
44 1  am  thankful  that  I  was  able  to  do  it  so  effect 
ually." 

He  took  Harry's  hand  and  pressed  it  warmly.  Our 
young  hero  felt,  with  a  thrill  of  thankfulness,  that  he 
had  at  least  one  good  friend  on  board  the  Sea  Eagle ; 
two,  in  fact,  for  Tom  Patch  he  knew  wo^d  stand  by 
aim  through  thick  and  tMn. 


218  SINK  on  SWIM;  ox. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

IN    SUSPENSE. 

WE  must  now  go  back  to  Vernon,  and  inquire  how 
Mrs.  Raymond  is  getting  on,  while  Harry  is  each  day 
drifting  further  and  further  away  from  home. 

Harry's  first  and  only  letter  from  the  city  has 
already  been  given.  It  brought  comfort  and  a 
degree  of  hopefulness  to  his  mother.  She  felt  that 
she  could  bear  her  solitude  better  if  Harry  was  doing 
well.  A  few  years,  and  they  might  be  together 
again,  as  he  anticipated ;  perhaps  living  in  New 
York.  In  the  mean  time,  he  must  come  home  once 
a  month  at  least.  Then  his  letters  would,  no  doubt, 
be  frequent. 

Two  days  passed,  however,  and  no  letter.  She 
began  to  get  anxious,  but  reflected  that  Harry  proba 
bly  had  a  great  deal  to  do.  Still  it  was  not  like  him 
to  neglect  her.  He  was  too  thoughtful  and  consider 
ate  a  boy  for  that. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  219 

Two  days  more  passed,  and  still  no  letter.  Mrs. 
Raymond  now  become  very  anxious.  She  had  about 
made  up  her  mind  to  go  up  to  the  city  herself,  though 
she  could  ill  spare  the  money  needful  for  the  trip, 
when  she  met  Squire  Turner  in  the  street,  on  the 
way  home  from  the  post-office. 

u  Good-morning,  Mrs.  Raymond,"  he  said,  gra 
ciously  :  "  what  do  you  hear  from  Harry?  I  am  told 
he  has  gone  to  the  city  to  seek  his  fortune." 

Mrs.  Raymond  was  glad  to  have  some  one  to  whom 
she  could  impart  her  anxiety. 

"  I  am  feeling  very  anxious  about  him,"  she  said. 
"  I  received  a  letter  from  Harry  four  days  ago,  just 
after  he  reached  New  York,  and  I  have  heard  nothing 
since." 

"  No  doubt  he  is  very  busy,"  said  the  squire. 

"  He  would  not  be  too  busy  to  write  me  a  few  lines. 
He  would  know  that  I  should  feel  anxious,"  said 
Mrs.  Raymond. 

"  Don't  feel  troubled,  Mrs.  Raymond.  I  know 
QOW  it  is  with  boys.  They  dislike  writing  letters 
(t  was  the  way  with  me  when  I  was  a  boy." 

She  shook  her  head. 


220  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

"  It  isn't  the  way  with  Harry,"  she  said.  •*  ^ie 
knows  too  well  how  lonely  1  am  without  him,  and 
how  much  I  depend  upon  hearing  from  him." 

•4  Perhaps  he  has  written,  and  the  letter  has  mis 
carried.  Letters  often  do.  I  have  it  hapfien  fre 
quently." 

"  It  may  be,"  said  Mrs.  Raymond,  with  momentary 
relief.  "  I  wish  I  was  sure  of  it.  He  is  my  only 
boy,  Squire  Turner.  If  anyth'^g  should  happen  to 
him,  it  would  break  my  heart." 

Knowing  full  well  the  wicked  plot  he  had  contrived 
against  this  poor  woman's  peace  and  happiness, 
Squire  Turner  felt  a  momentary  thrill  of  compunction 
at  what  he  had  done.  But  his  innate  selfishness  soon 
conquered  this  feeling.  He  had  too  many  reasons 
for  wishing  Harry  away,  to  sympathize  with  his 
mother. 

"Very  likely  you'll  get  a  letter  to-night,"  he  said. 

"  If  not,  I  shall  go  to  the  city  to-morrow  morning," 
said  Mrs.  Raymond.  "I  am  afraid  something  has 
happened  to  Harry." 

Here  was  a  chance  for  Squire  Turner  to  make 
wnat  would  be  regarded  as  a  friendly  offer. 


/lAfiRY  RAYMOND* X    RESOLVE.  231 

"  Mrs.  Raymond,"  he  said,  "  it  will  be  quii&  an 
undertaking  for  you  to  go  to  the  city,  not  to  mention 
the  expense,  which  will,  of  course,  be  a  consideration 
with  you.  I  was  thinking  of  going  there  myself  one 
day  next  week,  but  as  you  are  feeling  anxious  about 
Harry,  I  will  change  my  plans,  and  go  to-morrow.  1 
will  hunt  up  your  son,  and  bring  you  home  full  par 
ticulars  about  him.  I  don't  think,  however,  you  need 
to  feel  anxious/' 

"O  Squire  Turner,  will  you,  indeed?"  said  the 
poor  woman,  gratefully.  "  You  are  very  kind,  and  I 
shall  feel  it  as  a  great  favor." 

"  Certainly ;  it  will  give  me  great  pleasure  to 
oblige  you.  If  you  have  anything  to  send  him,  I  will 
°fcrry  it  with  pleasure." 

"  If  it  wouldn't  be  too  much  trouble,  I  will  ask  you 
to  carry  a  pair  of  stockings  I  have  just  footed  for 
him.  And  will  you  tell  him  to  be  sure  to  change  his 
stockings  if  he  gets  his  feet  wet?" 

"  I  will,  with  pleasure,  carry  any  message.  But 
why  not  write  a  note  and  send  by  me  ?  " 

•'  I  think  I  will,  if  you  will  be  so  kind  as  to  carry 
It," 


22^  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

"  Oh,  don't  mention  it !  I  hope,  Mrs.  Raymond 
you  will  regard  me  as  a  near  friend.  If  you  will 
write  the  letter  in  the  course  of  the  day,  I  will  send 
James  round  after  supper  to  get  it." 

"  I  am  afraid  it  will  be  too  much  trouble  for  your 
son." 

"  Not  at  all,  not  at  all,"  said  Squire  Turner,  cor 
dially. 

Mrs.  Raymond  parted  from  the  squire,  feeling  mor,? 
favorably  disposed  towards  him  than  ever  before. 
To  confess  the  truth,  he  had  never  been  much  of  a 
favorite  of  hers.  His  cold,  disagreeable  manners, 
and  his  general  reputation  as  a  hard,  close-fisted 
man,  had  repelled  not  only  her,  but  people  generally. 
But  now  he  seemed  wonderfully  thawed  out.  He  was 
actually  genial  and  cordial,  and  the  manner  in  which 
he  had  entered  into  her  feelings  about  Harry,  and  his 
kind  otfer  to  go  to  the  city  on  a  day  he  had  not 
Intended,  produced  a  strong  impression  upon  her 
mind. 

"  I  didn't  think  Squire  Turner  could  be  so  kind," 
ehe  said  to  herself.  "  I  have  done  him  injustice. 
He  has  a  good  heart,  after  all.' 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  223 

44  James,"  said  Squire  Turner,  at  the  supper-tiblo 
that  evening,  u  I  want  you  to  go  over  to  Mrs.  Ray 
mond's,  directly  after  supper." 

"What  for?"  asked  James. 

"•  I  am  going  to  New  York  to-morrow  morning,  and 
have  agreed  to  carry  a  letter  and  small  parcel  to  her 
son  Harry." 

James  turned  up  his  nose. 

"  Why  don't  she  come  to  the  house,  and  bring  it, 
then  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  promised  to  send  you." 

*'  I  don't  want  to  be  Mrs.  Raymond's  errand-boy. 
Harry  Raymond  is  a  low  upstart,  and  I  shouldn't 
think  you  would  be  willing  to  carry  bundles  for 
him." 

"  That  is  my  business,"  said  Squire  Turner,  who, 
but  for  private  reasons,  might  have  shared  his  son's 
objections. 

"  I've  got  a  headache,"  said  James.  "  I  don't  feel 
like  going  out." 

His  father  understood  very  well  that  this  was  not 
true.  Still  he  had  always  been  in  the  habit  of  humor 
ing  James  in  his  whims,  and  now,  instead  of  exerting 


224  SL&K  OR  SWIM;  o/z, 

his  rightful  authority  as  a  parent  to  secure  obedience, 
he  condescended  to  conciliate  him. 

44  If  you  have  a  headache,"  he  said,  "  the  fresh  air 
may  do  you  good.  Go  as  quick  as  you  can,  and 
when  you  come  back  I  will  give  you  a  dollar." 

This  argument,  addressed  to  his  son's  selfishness, 
prevailed.  James  had  seen  at  the  village  store  a 
new  fishing-pole,  which  he  desired  to  buy,  and  with 
the  promised  reward  he  could  do  so. 

44  Can't  you  give  me  the  money  now?"  he  asked. 
44  There's  something  I  want  to  buy  at  the  store,  on 
the  way." 

44  You'll  have  to  go  there  after  you  return,"  said 
the  squire,  who  at  once  saw  that  this  was  the  best 
way  of  securing  a  prompt  return. 

James  took  his  cap  and  started  for  the  cottage  of 
the  Widow  Raymond. 

44  The  old  man's  getting  mighty  obliging,"  he  mut 
tered  to  himself,  meaning,  of  course,  his  father,  by 
the  not  very  respectable  term  used.  "  I  should  be 
too  proud,  if  I  were  he,  to  carry  bundles  to  that  pau 
per,  Harry  Raymond.  Anyhow,  I  get  a  dollar  by  the 
operation,  and  that's  something." 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RE. SOLVE.  225 

Arrived  at  the  cottage,  James  knocked  sharply  at 
the  outer  door.  It  was  opened  almost  immediately 
by  Mrs.  Raymond  herself. 

"  Good-evening,  James,"  she  said,  courteously. 
"Won't  you  walk  in?" 

u  Can't  stop,"  said  James.  u  I'm  in  a  great  hurry. 
Have  you  got  that  note  ready  you  wanted  to  send 
to  the  city?" 

"  I'll  get  it  in  a  moment.  But  you  had  better  step 
in." 

"  No,  I  can't,"  said  James,  not  taking  the  trouble 
to  acknowledge  the  invitation.  "  I  am  in  a  great 
hurry." 

Mrs.  Raymond  went  back  into  her  sitting-room, 
and  speedily  reappeared  with  the  note  and  the  pair 
of  stockings  wrapped  in  a  brown  paper. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  trouble  you  with  this  parcel,"  she 
said.  u  Your  father  was  so  kind  as  to  offer  to  carry 
it." 

"  Umph !  "  muttered  James,  ungraciously. 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  him,  and  to  you  also  for 
your  trouble  in  coming  around  for  it." 

James  did  not  deign  a  reply,  but,  turning  his  back, 
15 


226  SINK  on  SWIM;  oft, 

marched  off,  feeling  that  he  would  rather  have  car 
ried  a  bundle  for  any  one  than  for  Harry  Raymond. 
If  he  could  have  known  that  at  this  very  moment  the 
boy  whom  he  hated  so  intensely  was  speeding  away 
from  America,  doing  the  duties  of  a  sailor-boy,  he 
would  have  felt  compensated  for  the  disagreeable 
nature  of  the  favor  he  was  so  unwillingly  doing. 

Squire  Turner  went  to  the  city  the  next  day,  as  he 
proposed.  He  went  round  to  the  office  in  Nassau 
Street,  temporarily  occupied  by  Lemuel  Fairchild, 
the  address  having  been  communicated  to  him  by 
Mrs.  Raymond,  though  this  was  hardly  necessary,  as 
Hartley  Brandon  had  apprised  him  by  letter  of  the 
details  of  the  plot  which  they  had  mutually  arranged. 
Of  course  he  found  it  locked,  and  the  tenant  gone. 
The  great  commission  house  of  Fairchild  &  Co.  had 
mysteriously  disappeared.  In  order  to  have  some 
thing  to  report,  he  called  at  the  next  room. 

"  Can  you  tell  me,"  he  asked,  "  whether  Mr.  Fair- 
child  still  occupies  the  adjoining  room  ?  " 

"  No,"  was  the  reply ;  "  he  only  occupied  it  for  a 
week,  and  then  left.  I  understand  that  he  left  with 
out  paying  his  rent." 


RARliY    RAYMOND'S    KKSOLVR.  227 

••indeed!"  said  Squire  Turner;  "that  surprises 
me.  I  understood  that  he  was  at  the  head  of  a  large 
and  responsible  business  house." 

The  other  laughed. 

u  If  you  had  seen  him,  you  would  soon  have  cor 
rected  your  mistake.  He  was  a  seedy  adventurer. 
I  don't  believe  he  was  worth  twenty-five  dollars  in 
the  world." 

u  Indeed  !  "  repeated  the  squire  ;  u  I  am  concerned 
to  hear  this.  The  fact  is,  the  son  of  one  of  my  neigh 
bors —  a  widow  —  came  to  the  city  to  enter  his 
employ.  One  letter  has  been  received  from  him,  but 
no  other.  His  mother  is  feeling  very  anxious.  How 
long  since  they  vacated  the  room  ?  " 

"  I  have  not  seen  him  for  four  or  five  days.* 

"  Did  you  see  anything  of  the  boy  ?  " 

•*  Yes ;  I  saw  a  boy  here  last  Monday,  and  on 
Tuesday  morning,  but  not  since.  Fairchild  was  here 
for  a  few  minutes  in  the  afternoon ;  but  he,  too,  has 
been  absent  from  that  time/' 

44  Really  this  looks  suspicious.  What  would  you 
advise  me  to  do?"  asked  Squire  Turner,  with  «.n 
appearance  of  concern. 


228  SINK  OR  SWIM;  oit, 

"  Lay  tbe  matter  before  the  police  authorities. 
Most  likely  this  Fairchild  is  a  swindler,  and  they  may 
know  something  about  him.  I  know  of  nothing  else 
to  advise." 

u  Thank  you.  I  believe  I  will  follow  your  advice. 
Good-morning." 

"  Good-morning,  sir." 

Squire  Turner  decided  in  reality  to  follow  his 
recommendation.  Nothing  was  better  adapted  to 
clear  him  personally  of  any  suspicions  of  having  had 
a  hand  in  Harry's  abduction,  in  the  improbable  con 
tingency  of  such  suspicion  being  aroused.  Besides 
this,  he  was  founding  a  claim  to  Mrs.  BbayHQio'nd*^ 
gratitude,  which  might  lead  her  hereafter  f>  regard 
his  suit  with  favor,  in  case  he  should  find  it  politic  to 
seek  her  in  marriage.  He  accordingly  called  at  *b? 
police  head-quarters,  and  laid  the  case  b 
authorities,  taking  care,  however,  not  t*>n  7*4^ 
plicit,  as  he  had  no  wish  to  have  Fairchild  actually 
arrested. 

He  also  called  at  the  office  of  a  morning  paper, 
nd,  obtaining  copies  for  the  last  three  or  four  days, 


HAKU.Y  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  229 

read,  with  satisfaction,  the  record  of  the  Sea  Eagle's 
sailing. 

"  Now,"  he  thought  to  himself,  "  the  field  is  clear, 
and  I  can  carry  out  my  plans  without  interruption." 


230  SINK  OR  SWIM; 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

SEEKING    FOB    HARRY. 

SQUIRE  TURNER  arrived  in  Vernon  in  time  for  a  late 
supper.  After  partaking  of  it,  he  took  his  hat  and 
cane,  and  walked  round  to  Mrs.  Raymond's  cottage. 
Seeing  him  from  the  window,  she  hastened  to  open 
the  door,  and  gazed  with  a  look  of  anxious  inquiry 
into  his  face. 

"  Did  you  see  Harry?"  she  asked  quickly,  for 
getting  in  her  anxiety  for  her  son  even  to  bid  the 
squire  good-evening. 

u  No,  Mrs.  Raymond ;  but  I  will  come  in  and  tell 
you  all  about  it." 

His  face  was  grave,  and  his  voice  was  sympathetic. 
The  poor  woman,  her  heart  full  of  a  terrible  anxiety, 
haunted  by  undefined  fears,  led  the  way  into  tne 
plain  sitting-room,  and  then  said,  in  a  voice  of 
entieaty,  "Tell  me  quick,  Squire  Turner,  has  any 
thing  happened  to  my  boy  ?  " 


HARRT  RAYMOND'S  RKSOLTE.  231 

%;Let  us  hope  not,  Mrs.  Raymond.  I  assure  you 
I  know  of  no  harm  that  has  come  to  him,  but  —  I 
could  not  find  him." 

"  You  forgot  the  number?"  she  inquired,  eagerly. 

"  No,  I  remembered  the  number.  Besides,  it  was 
on  your  letter  and  bundle.  But  I  find  that  Mr.  Fair- 
child  has  moved  from  his  office  on  Nassau  Street." 

"  Has  moved  —  where  ?  " 

"  That  I  could  not  learn.  It  seems  that  the  office 
was  closed  the  day  after  your  son's  arrival  in  New 
York,  that  is,  on  Tuesday.  I  made  inquiry  of  the 
occupant  of  the  next  office,  but  that  was  all  he  could 
tell  me,  except  that  he  believed  Mr.  Fairchild  had 
gone  away  without  paying  his  rent." 

Mrs.  Raymond  looked  surprised. 

**  I  don't  understand  it,"  she  said.  "  Harry  wrote 
that  he  was  doing  a  large  business.  I  thought  th* 
firm  was  one  of  the  largest  in  New  York." 

"  Let  us  hope  that  the  information  I  received  was 
incorrect,"  said  the  squire.  "  We  will  suppose  that 
Mr.  Fairchild  found  it  necessary  to  move,  on  account 
of  the  demands  of  an  extensive  business.  The  office 


232  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OTJ, 

on  Nassau  Street  was  a  small  one,  and  I  should 
hardly  suppose  it  would  be  adequate  to  his  wants." 

u  But  Harry  said  nothing  about  moving.  Be 
sides,  if  they  did  move,  I  should  think  he  would 
have  written  me  since." 

u  There  is  something  in  what  you  say,"  the  squire 
answered.  "  In  fact,  I  confess  the  affair  has  puzzled 
me.  It  is  possible,  however,  as  I  suggested  the  other 
day,  that  he  may  have  written,  and  the  letter  mis 
carried." 

"  Do  you  think  anything  has  happened  to  Harry, 
Squire  Turner  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Raymond. 

"  I  hope  not." 

"  But  you  think  it  possible? " 

u  I  don't  know  what  could  have  happened." 

"  But  it  seems  suspicious,  Mr.  Fairchild's  moving 
away  so  quickly." 

"  Yes,  that  does  look  suspicious,"  admitted  the 
squire.  "  In  fact,  I  thought  it  best  to  lay  the  matter 
before  the  police  authorities,  so  that  if  there  is  any 
thing  wrong  they  may  ferret  it  out." 

"Oh,  I  wish  that  Harry  had  never  gone  to  the 
city  1 "  murmured  Mrs,  Raymond,  sorrowfully.  "  I 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  233 

was  not  in  favor  of  it  from  the  first.  I  tried  to  have 
him  stay  at  home,  but  he  was  possessed  to  go  to  the 
city." 

"  It  is  natural,  Mrs.  Raymond,  that  a  spirited  boy 
should  get  tired  of  a  small  village  like  Vernon,  and 
want  to  enter  a  larger  field.  It  may  turn  out  all 
right.  Don't  decide  too  hastily  that  anything  has 
happened  to  him." 

"  I  shall  not  sleep  any  to-night.  Squire  Turner, 
1  think  I  must  go  to  the  city  to-morrow." 

"  I  would  not  advise  you  to  do  so,  Mrs.  Raymond, 
You  could  do  no  good  there.  I  have  placed  the 
matter  in  the  hands  of  the  police  authorities,  and 
whatever  there  is  to  be  found  out  they  will  ascertain 
and  communicate  to  me." 

"  But  it  seems  so  hard  to  wait  in  suspense." 

"  That  is  true.  I  will  tell  you  what  I  will  do.  I 
know  your  anxiety,  and  if  nothing  should  be  heard 
before  next  Tuesday,  I  will  go  to  the  city  again, 
and  make  what  additional  inquiries  I  can." 

"  Thank  you,  Squire  Turner.  You  are  truly  kind. 
How  can  I  ever  repay  you  for  your  great  kindness?" 

*'  Don't  mention  it,  Mrs.  Raymond.     I  know  yov 


234  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OB, 

have  no  one  to  look  out  for  you  now,  and  it  is  a 
pleasure  to  me  to  feel  that  I  am  able  to  be  of  ser 
vice." 

The  squire  took  his  leave,  pressing  Mrs.  Raymond's 
hand  gently,  to  indicate  the  sympathy  which  he  felt 
for  her. 

u  I  believe  I  played  my  part  pretty  well,"  he  said 
to  himself,  as  he  went  out.  "  She  will  never  suspect 
tfhat  I  had  anything  to  do  with  the  abduction  of  her 
son.  When  the  affair  has  blown  over  a  little,  I  will 
go  to  Milwaukie,  and  see  Robinson  about  the  land 
warrant,  and  its  probable  value.  If  the  affair  can  be 
compromised,  so  as  to  bring  Mrs.  Raymond  ten 
thousand  dollars,  I  will  offer  myself.  That  will  be  a 
pretty  addition  to  my  property.  Besides,  when  her 
son  gets  home,  and  finds  that  I  am  his  mother's  hus 
band,  his  mouth  will  be  shut  about  that  confounded 
fire.  Maybe,  he  will  fall  overboard,  and  never  come 
back.  If  that  happens,  I  shan't  shed  many  tears. 
He  is  an  obstinate,  impracticable  boy,  and  I  shall  be 
rid  of  him." 

Thus  the  squire  soliloquized. 

Meanwhile,   three  days   passed.     It  was  Monday 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  23* 

evening.  Again  he  called  to  see  the  widow,  now,  as 
it  appeared,  doubly  bereft  of  husband  and  son. 

"Have  you  had  a  letter,  Mrs.  Raymond?"  he  in 
quired. 

"  No,"  she  answered,  sorrowfully.  "  I  hoped  you 
might  have  heard  something." 

The  squire  shook  his  head. 

"  I  wish  I  had  any  such  news  to  give  you,"  he 
said ;  "  but  I  have  heard  nothing  whatever." 

"  I  am  sure  Harry  is  dead,"  said  the  poor  mother, 
bursting  into  tears. 

"  No,  no,  I  am  sure  he  is  not,"  said  the  squire, 
soothingly.  "  There  are  twenty  ways  of  accounting 
for  his  silence,  before  adopting  such  an  extreme  view 
as  this." 

"  I  have  hardly  closed  my  eyes  in  sleep  for  the  last 
three  nights,"  said  Mrs.  Raymond ;  and  her  pale  face 
and  swollen  eyea  testified  to  the  literal  correctness  of 
what  she  said. 

"  Don't  worry  too  much,"  said  the  squire.  "  We 
shall  hear  of  Harry  yet.  To-morrow  I  will  go  to 
the  city  again.  If  it  will  be  any  satisfaction  to  you, 
I  will  invite  you  to  accompany  me." 


236  SINK  ox  SWIM;  ojz, 

"  I  will  go,'*  said  the  poor  mother.  "  It  will  be 
better  than  staying  at  home.  I  shall  feel  that  I  am 
doing  something  to  find  my  lost  Harry.  You  are 
very  kind  to  invite  me." 

"  Don't  mention  it,"  said  the  squire.  "  I  will  call 
round  in  the  morning,  and  carry  you  to  the  depot  hi 
my  carriage." 

"  I  will  be  ready." 

The  next  day,  therefore,  Squire  Turner,  accom 
panied  by  Mrs.  Raymond,  went  to  New  York.  They 
went  round  to  the  office  in  Nassau  Street,  but,  as 
may  be  expected,  learned  nothing  in  addition  to  the 
facts  previously  gathered.  Next,  they  went  to  th« 
office  of  the  Superintendent  of  Police,  but  learned 
nothing  definite  beyond  this,  that  Lemuel  Fairchild> 
instead  of  being  a  responsible  business-man,  was  a 
needy  adventurer.  He  had  disappeared  from  the 
city,  and  thus  far  the  police  had  been  unable  to  trace 
him.  What  intention  he  could  have  had  in  pretend 
ing  to  be  a  commission  merchant,  and,  above  all, 
what  could  have  induced  him  to  send  for  Harry,  was 
a  mystery  which  it  seemed  difficult  to  explain.  Th* 


SARMJ  RAYMOND'S   RESOLVE.  237 

superintendent  promised  to  pursue  his  inquiries,  and 
to  endeavor  to  obtain  information  concerning  Harry 
and  his  employer,  —  both  of  whom  had  strangely  dis 
appeared.  With  this  they  were  obliged  to  be  con 
tent,  unsatisfactory  as  it  was. 

With  a  heavy  heart  Mrs.  Raymond  made  her  home 
ward  journey.  Thus  far  she  had  thought  only  of  the 
personal  grief  she  had  suffered  in  the  loss  of  Harry. 
But  another  consideration  very  soon  forced  itself 
upon  her  mind.  In  losing  Harry,  she  had  lost  her 
main  support.  How  was  she  to  sustain  herself  and 
little  Katy?  Already  the  small  amount  of  ready 
money  which  her  husband  had  left  behind  him  was 
exhausted,  and  as  yet  she  knew  of  no  way  of  earning 
more.  It  was  Squire  Turner  who  first  opened  the 
iubject  to  her. 

"I  have  no  doubt."  he  said,  "that  Harry  will 
return  after  a  while,  and  explain  his  absence  in  a 
satisfactory  manner.  But,  meanwhile,  you  will,  of 
course,  suffer  inconvenience  from  the  loss  of  his 
wages.  Have  you  thought  of  any  plan?" 

"  No,"  she  answered,  wearily.     "  I  have  no  pleas- 


238  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OK, 

ore  in  living,  now  that  my  husband  and  son  are 
gone," 

"  You  must  live  for  the  sake  of  little  Katy,  and  for 
the  sake  of  Harry,  who  will  return  some  day." 

"  Yes,  Katy  will  need  me  ;  Harry  I  shall  never  sec 
again." 

"  You  think  so  now  ;  but  I  am  sure  he  will  return. 
I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  form  a  plan  for  you,  sup 
posing  that  you  were  too  much  occupied  by  your 
grief  to  form  any  for  yourself." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  Squire  Turner." 

"  I  will  advance  you  a  hundred  dollars,  which  can 
be  added  to  the  mortgage  I  hold  on  your  place.  With 
a  part  of  it  you  can  buy  a  sewing-machine,  and  take 
in  work.  I  am  needing  a  dozen  shirts  made,  if  you 
will  undertake  them." 

Mrs.  Raymond  felt  that  this  was  a  kind  and  wise 
plan,  and  so  expressed  herself.  Accordingly,  the 
sewing-machine  was  bought,  and  it  was  understood 
that  Mrs.  Raymond  was  ready  to  take  in  sewing. 
She  obtained  considerable  employment,  but  not 
enough  to  pay  all  her  expenses.  Every  month  she 


SAURY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  239 

found  herself  going  behindhand,  and  getting    more 
and  more  into  debt  to  Squire  Turner. 

But  we  must  leave  her  now,  and  follow  the  fortunes 
of  our  young  hero. 


240  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR. 


CHAPTER    XXI** 
SQUIRE  TURNER'S  LETTER. 

THE  affair  of  the  caricature  was  suffered  to  pass 
without  the  punishment  of  the  guilty  party.  Had 
not  Harry  found  some  one  to  clear  him  of  the  charge, 
be  would  have  fared  badly  from  the  captain's  bru 
tality,  increased  by  his  unfounded  dislike.  But  in 
Jack  Rodman  the  offence  was  passed  over.  Probably 
the  captain  suspected  that  the  caricature  had  been 
drawn  with  the  object  of  getting  our  hero  into 
trouble,  and  that  no  insult  was  intended  to  him 
self. 

It  became  evident  to  all  on  board  that  Harry  was 
an  object  of  dislike  to  the  captain.  Brandon  never 
spoke  to  him  except  in  a  rough  voice  and  with  lower 
ing  looks,  and  would  gladly  have  shown  his  dislike 
actively,  but  for  the  restraining  presence  of  Mr.  Wei- 
don,  the  supercargo,  whose  interest  in  our  hero  daily 
grew  stronger. 


RAYMOND'S  HE  SOLVE.  241 

As  for  Harry,  he  did  his  duty  faithfully,  as  he  had 
determined.  His  position  was  not  to  his  liking,  and 
he  meant  to  escape  from  it  whenever  an  opportunity 
offered  ;  but,  until  that  time  came,  he  thought  it  best 
to  give  the  captain  no  cause  of  complaint.  He  often 
wondered  whether  Captain  Brandon  had  invited  him 
on  board  with  the  intention  of  carrying  him  off  to 
sea.  On  this  point  he  could  not  satisfy  himself ;  for, 
though  it  certainly  looked  like  it,  he  could  conceive 
of  no  motive  which  Brandon  could  have  for  so  acting. 
He  was,  as  he  supposed,  a  total  stranger  to  him  until 
the  day  before  the  vessel  sailed.  He  concluded, 
therefore,  that  his  detention  was  only  accidental,  but 
that  the  captain  did  not  feel  sufficient  interest  in  him 
to  send  him  on  shore  in  time. 

But  a  short  time  afterwards  he  made  a  discovery 
which  threw  a  new  and  perplexing  light  upon  his 
abduction.  He  was  sent  down  into  the  cabin  one 
day  on  an  errand.  While  there,  he  saw  an  open 
letter  lying  upon  the  floor.  Picking  it  up,  with  the 
intention  of  placing  it  on  the  table,  he  happened  to 
sec  his  own  name  about  the  middle  of  the  page.  In 
his  surprise  he  let  his  eye  travel  over  the  remainder 


242  SINK  OR  SWIM;  <xs, 

of  the  letter.  A  light  flashed  upon  him  as  he  read, 
and,  commencing  at  the  beginning,  he  made  himself 
acquainted  with  the  whole  letter.  Then,  because  he 
did  not  dare  to  stay  longer,  he  hurriedly  thrust  it 
into  his  pocket  and  went  on  deck. 

That  we  may  understand  how  far  Harry  was  en 
lightened  by  its  perusal,  the  letter  is  subjoined  :  — 

"  HARTLEY  BRANDON  :  —  Your  letter,  detailing  the 
steps  which  you  have  already  taken,  in  order  to  carry 
out  the  plan  which  I  mentioned  to  you,  is  received. 
I  approve  of  all  you  have  done.  The  most  difficult 
part  of  the  programme,  —  getting  the  boy  to  the  city 
—  you  have  ingeniously  provided  for.  The  offer  of  a 
place  in  the  city,  with  a  salary  of  twelve  dollars  a 
week,  will,  undoubtedly,  be  very  tempting  to  an 
ambitions  boy  like  Harry  Raymond.  Now  he  is 
employed  temporarily  in  the  village  store  at  six  dol 
lars  a  week,  and  that  situation  he  must  soon  resign. 
He  will,  undoubtedly,  swallow  the  bait,  and  when 
you  have  once  got  him  to  the  city,  you  can  easily 
devise  means  for  getting  him  on  board  your  vessel 
By  the  way,  I  congratulate  you  on  your  unexpected 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  243 

accession  to  the  post  of  captain.  It  will  pay  you 
better,  and  of  course  be  more  agreeable  than  that  of 
mate.  Besides,  it  will  give  you  full  power  over 
young  Raymond.  If  he  should  show  signs  of  insub 
ordination,  which  is  quite  possible,  for  he  is  a  high- 
spirited  boy,  have  no  mercy  upon  him.  Let  him  feel 
your  authority.  Your  voyage  is  fortunately  a  long 
one,  and  by  the  time  you  return  he  will  probably  be 
well  tamed  ;  if  not,  it  will  be  your  fault. 

"  I  do  not  know  that  I  have  anything  more  to  add, 
except  that  of  course  you  are  never  to  mention  my 
name  to  Raymond,  or  lead  him  in  any  way  to  suspect 
that  there  is  any  acquaintance  between  us.  On  this 
point  I  am  very  particular,  and  should  I  discover  that 
you  have  broken  your  word,  I  should  disown  all 
knowledge  of  the  transaction,  and  withhold  the 
reward  I  promised.  I  enclose  twenty-five  dollars, 
which  you  say  you  have  promised  to  your  confeder 
ate,  Lemuel  Fairchild." 

This  was  the  whole  of  the  letter.  It  was  not 
signed,  from  motives  of  prudence,  no  doubt,  for 
otherwise  Squire  Turner  would  have  placed  himself 


244  SINS.  OR  SWIM;  OA, 

in  the  power  of  Brandon.  But  Harry  was  not  for  a 
moment  in  doubt  as  to  the  name  of  the  writer.  He 
was  familiar  with  the  squire's  handwriting,  if  there 
had  not  been  internal  evidence  to  show  that  it  was 
written  by  him. 

But  the  discovery  was  far  from  clearing  up  the 
mystery.  Why  should  Squire  Turner  enter  into  a  plot 
to  kidnap  him?  Was  it  because  Harry  had  been  a 
witness  of  the  fire,  and  by  his  testimony  could  pre 
vent  the  squire  from  receiving  his  insurance  money  ? 
This  was  possible.  At  any  rate  Harry  could  think 
of  nothing  else.  Had  he  understood  the  further 
motives  which  prompted  Squire  Turner's  action,  he 
would  have  felt  still  more  anxious  than  at  present. 
Now  he  felt  an  eager  wish  to  be  at  home,  and  con 
front  the  squire  with  the  evidence  he  had  obtained,  as 
well  as  to  prevent  his  obtaining  money  from  the 
insurance  company  on  false  pretences,  as  he  felt  per 
suaded  that  he  intended  to  do. 

Our  hero  resolved  to  keep  the  letter  he  had  acci 
dentally  discovered.  It  was  not  his,  but  its  connection 
with  him  justified  him,  be  thought,  in  retaining  it. 
4s  he  might  be  suspected  of  having  it,  he  hid  it 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  245 

away,  not  wishing  to  have  it  found  upon  him  in  the 
event  of  a  search.  But  Captain  Brandon  did  not 
appear  to  miss  it.  At  any  rate,  he  made  no  inquiry 
after  it,  and  very  probably  supposed  that  it  Was  still 
in  his  possession. 

Harry  deliberated  whether  he  should  impart  to  any 
one  the  information  he  had  obtained.  Tom  Patch 
was  an  honest  fellow  and  a  good  friend,  but  he  was 
an  illiterate  sailor,  and,  though  he  could  give  sympa 
thy,  his  advice  would  be  of  little  service.  Mr.Wel- 
don,  on  the  other  hand,  had  not  only  shown  himself 
a  friend,  but  he  was  a  gentleman  of  education  and 
judgment.  Harry  felt  that  he  would  be  a  safe 
counsellor.  Accordingly,  one  day  when  a  good 
opportunity  offered,  he  related  to  the  supercargo  the 
discovery  he  had  made,  with  enough  of  his  home  life 
to  make  the  account  intelligible. 

The  young  man  listened  in  surprise. 

"  This  is  a  strange  story,  Harry,"  he  said. 

"  Yes,  sir,  it  is  strange,"  said  our  hero.  "  I  could 
not  have  believed  that  Squire  Turner  would  hare 
treated  me  so  meanly. 

"  Your  having  seen  him  set  fire  to  his  house  makes 


248  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

it  less   strange.     He  could  not  draw  the  insurance 
money  if  you  chose  to  interfere." 

44 1  should  have  interfered,"  said  Harry,  promptly. 

44  You  would  have  been  right  in  doing  so.  It 
appears,  then,  that  he  was  interested  to  the  amount  of 
two  thousand  dollars  in  getting  you  out  of  the  way." 

44  Yes,  sir,"  said  our  hero ;  44  but  there  is  one  thing  I 
can't  understand." 

44  What  is  it?" 

44  He  must  have  known  that  I  would  come  back 
from  the  voyage,  and  that  I  should  learn  whether  he 
had  drawn  the  money.  It  would  not  be  too  late  then 
to  expose  him." 

44  That  is  true,"  said  the  young  man,  thoughtfully. 

44  Perhaps,"  he  said,  after  a  little  thought,  fixing  his 
eyes  seriously  upon  Harry,  44  he  does  not  expect  you 
to  come  back  at  all." 

44  What  do  you  mean,  Mr.  Weldon  ?  " 

44 1  mean  this  ;  he  has  already  shown  himself  capa 
ble  of  one  crime  —  he  may  be  capable  of  another. 
Evidently  he  has  some  secret  understanding  with 
the  captain,  and  he  may  have  given  him  secret 
instructions,  of  which  we  are  not  aware." 


HARRI    RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE .  247 

1 '  You  don't  think  he  would  take  my  life  ? "  said 
Harry,  his  brown  cheek  turning  a  little  pale  at  the 
thought. 

"  I  hope  not.  He  might,  however,  leave  you  by  de 
sign  on  some  lonely  island  in  the  sea.  At  any  rate,  it 
will  be  necessary  to  be  on  your  guard.  I  am  very 
glad  you  have  told  me  what  you  have  found  out.  I 
will  also  be  on  the  lookout,  and  if  I  find  any  danger 
menacing  you  I  will  let  you  know." 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Weldon,"  said  Harry,  grateftilly  ; 
"  I  am  very  glad  to  have  so  good  a  friend." 

"  You  may  depend  on  my  friendship  with  confi 
dence,"  said  the  supercargo,  taking  the  boy's  hand 
kindly.  "  I  feel  an  interest  in  you,  and  no  harm 
shall  come  to  you  if  I  can  help  it." 

The  suggestion  of  Mr.  Weldon  that  possibly  Squire 
Turner  did  not  expect  him  to  return  was  a  startling 
one  to  our  hero.  He  had  lamented  his  necessary 
absence  for  a  year  or  more  from  home,  and  oftentimes 
pictured  to  himself  with  pain  the  grief  of  his  mother 
when  she  learned  of  his  mysterious  disappearance. 
He  was  afraid  that  she  would  suffer  from  narrow 
means  while  he  was  away.  Still  he  knew  that  she  could 


24$  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

raise  money  on  the  house  by  a  further  mortgage, 
enough  probably  to  carry  her  through  two  }Tears, 
even  if  she  did  not  earn  anything  during  this  period. 
It  would  be  a  great  pity  to  have  her  little  property  so 
sacrificed;  but  Harry  was  hopeful,  and  meant  when 
he  returned  to  make  up  to  her  for  her  losses.  He 
would  be  home  in  eighteen  months,  as  he  judged 
from  inquiries  made  of  the  sailors  ;  at  any  rate  in  less 
than  two  years,  and  this  thought  had  sustained  him 
in  his  temporary  separation.  But  now  for  the  first 
time  the  thought  came  to  him  that  he  might  be  pre 
vented  from  returning  at  all.  Suppose  it  should 
prove  true,  as  the  supercargo  suggested,  that  Captain 
Brandon  should  leave  him  on  some  lonely  island  in 
the  ocean,  there  to  starve,  or  to  drag  out  a  solitary 
and  wretched  existence,  perhaps  for  years  ?  This  was 
terrible  to  think  of,  yet  he  had  heard  and  read  of  such 
cases.  He  resolved  not  to  be  persuaded  to  land  any 
where,  except  at  the  termination  of  the  voyage,  and 
thus  avoid  danger. 

But,  as  often  happens,  the  danger  assumed  a  differ 
ent  shape  from  what  he  anticipated.  To  explain  the 
evil  which  befell  him,  it  is  necessary  to  say  that  Jack 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  249 

Rodman  had  not  forgiven  our  hero  for  the  signal  and 
public  manner  in  which  he  had  defeated  him  in  the 
contest  already  recorded.  He  cherished  a  malignant 
hatred  against  Harry,  and  longed  to  do  him  some 
harm.  He  was  bound  to  get  even  with  him,  so  he 
said  to  himself.  It  was  some  time  before  an  oppor 
tunity  presented  itself.  But  at  length  one  came. 

Harry  was  leaning  over  the  side  one  evening, 
thinking  over  his  position,  when  Jack  Rodman's 
attention  was  drawn  to  him.  He  looked  around  him 
hurriedly.  Nobody  was  looking.  A  terrible  impulse 
seized  him.  He  crept  stealthily  behind  Harry,  lifted 
him  from  his  feet,  and  in  an  instant  threw  him  into 
the  sea. 

"  Help !  "  exclaimed  Harry,  in  loud,  clear  tones. 

Tom  Patch  heard,  and  recognized  the  voice.  In 
stantly  he  threw  a  plank  overboad,  calling  out :  — 

"  Keep  up,  my  lad,  and  we'll  help  you." 

The  captain  was  just  coming  out  of  the  cabin. 
Tom  ran  up  to  him,  and  hurriedly  announced  that 
Harry  had  fallen  overboard. 

"  If  he's  careless  enough  to  fall  overboard,  let  him 
take  care  of  himself,"  said  the  captain,  coolly. 


250  SINK  OR  SWIM;  GJZ, 

"Won't  you  put  out  a  boat?"  asked  Tom,  anx- 
iously. 

The  only  answer  was  an  oath,  and  a  savage  com 
mand  to  go  about  his  business. 

All  the  while  valuable  time  was  being  lost.  Harry 
was  by  this  time  some  distance  astern.  He  had 
succeeded  in  reaching  the  plank,  and  was  clinging 
to  it. 

"  Poor  lad ! "  said  Tom  Patch,  brushing  a  tear  from 
Ms  eyes  with  his  large  and  horny  hand,  and  he 
breathed  an  anathema  against  the  captain,  which  I 
cannot  record.  "  He's  bound  for  Davy  Jones's 
locker,  as  sure  as  my  name's  Tom." 

There  seemed  little  chance  for  our  hero.  With 
nothing  but  a  plank  between  him  and  immediate 
destruction,  alone  in  the  vast  ocean,  without  a  parti 
cle  of  food  or  drink  to  sustain  him,  the  question  of 
"  sink  or  swim"  seemed  little  in  doubt. 


JLAR&Y  RAYMOND'S  BMSOLFM.  251 


CHAPTER     XXV. 

THE  CAPTAIN  AND  THE  SUPERCARGO. 

WHEN  Harry  was  so  treacherously  thrown  over 
'x>ard  by  Jack  Rodman,  the  supercargo  was  not  on 
deck.  He  had  been  attacked  by  a  violent  headache, 
which  had  caused  him  to  go  below  and  "  turn  in," 
in  the  hope  of  obtaining  a  little  sleep.  In  this  he 
at  length  succeeded,  and  when  Harry's  life  was 
placed  in  jeopardy  he  was  fast  asleep.  He  did  not 
wake  up  for  an  hour  or  more.  Feeling  refreshed 
he  got  up  and  went  on  deck.  He  looked  round  as 
usual  for  Harry,  but  did  not  see  him.  His  atten 
tion,  however,  was  drawn  to  Tom  Patch,  who,  good, 
honest  fellow,  every  now  and  then  raised  his  rough 
hand  to  his  eyes  to  brush  away  a  tear. 

"What's  the  matter,  Tom?"  asked  the  super 
cargo,  for  he  had  observed  the  rough  sailor's  par 
tiality  for  Harry,  and  this  had  inclined  him  favor 
ably  towards  him. 


252  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

"  Is  it  you,  Mr.  Weldon  ?  "  said  Tom,  in  a  subdued 
tone.  "  I  wish  you'd  been  on  deck  an  hour  ago." 

"Why?" 

"  Mayhaps  you  could  have  saved  the  poor  lad." 

"Saved  whom?"  asked  the  supercargo,  suspect 
ing  at  once  that  some  harm  had  befallen  Harry, 
but  not  dreaming  of  the  extent  of  his  misfortune. 

"  He  fell  overboard,  or  was  thrown  over,  I  c*n"t 
justly  say  which." 

"  Whom  do  you  mean?  " 

"  Harry  Raymond." 

"  Good  heavens  !     How  long  since  ?  * 

"An  hour  and  a  half,  maybe." 

"And  was  nothing  done  to  save  him?" 

"  I  threw  a  plank  when  I  heard  him  cry  fos 
help." 

"And  where  was  the  captain  when  this  hap 
pened?"  asked  Weldon,  suspiciously. 

"  In  his  cabin.  I  went  down  to  tell  him,  and  ask 
to  have  a  boat  lowered  to  save  the  poor  lad;  but 
he  swore  that  if  he  was  careless  enough  to  fall 
overboard  he  must  save  himself." 

The  supercargo   was   not   an   excitable   man,  but 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  253 

rather  mild  and  pacific  in  his  disposition ;  but  when 
he  heard  of  the  cold-blooded  manner  in  which 
Captain  Brandon  had  refused  help  to  the  drowning 
boy,  he  was  filled  with  a  just  indignation,  which 
he  was  unable  to  conceal. 

•'Where  is  Captain  Brandon?"  he  asked,  in  a 
quick,  stern  voice,  so  unusual  to  him  that  Tom 
looked  up  in  surprise. 

"  In  his  cabin,  Mr.  Weldon.  He  gave  orders 
that  he  should  not  be  disturbed." 

"  That,  for  his  orders  ! "  returned  the  supercargo, 
snapping  his  fingers  contemptuously.  "  He  shall 
be  disturbed,  and  he  shall  answer  to  me  for  his 
atrocious  inhumanity ! "  And  Mr.  Weldon  hurried 
to  the  rear  of  the  companion-way. 

"  I  didn't  think  he  had  so  much  spirit,"  said  Tom, 
as  he  followed  with  his  glance  the  retreating  form  of 
the  supercargo,  "  he's  so  mild-like,  commonly.  But 
Fm  glad  the  poor  lad's  got  some  one  that'll  dare  to 
speak  up  for  him.  I'd  do  it,  but  the  captain'd 
knock  me  down  with  a  marlin-spike,  and  put  me  in 
irons,  likely,  if  I  did." 


254  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

The  captain's  attention  was  drawn  to  a  quick, 
imperative  knock  at  the  door  of  the  cabin. 

" Go  away ! "  he  growled.  "I  do  not  wish  to 
be  disturbed." 

The  only  answer  was  a  succession  of  knocks  still 
louder  and  more  imperative. 

"  I'll  fix  him  for  his  insolence,  whoever  he  is,** 
the  captain  muttered,  angrily,  and,  walking  to  the 
cabin  door,  opened  it  himself. 

"What  do  you  mean,  Mr.  Weldon?"  he  de 
manded,  in  surprise  and  anger. 

The  young  man's  face  was  white  with  anger,  and 
there  was  a  suppressed  fury  in  his  tone,  as  he 
replied,  "  I  come  here,  Captain  Brandon,  to  demand 
why  you  have  sacrificed  a  human  life,  by  refusing 
to  make  any  effort  to  save  the  boy  Harry  Ray 
mond." 

"I  am  not  responsible  to  you  for  what  I  do  or 
decline  to  do,  Mr.  Weldon,"  said  Brandon,  fiercely. 
"  It  is  none  of  your  business." 

"It  is  my  business,  Captain  Brandon,  ai»I  the 
business  of  every  man  on  board  who  has  a  spark 
of  humanity  in  his  bosom." 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  255 

•'  You  are  insolent,  sir." 

"  Is  this  a  time  to  choose  words?  You  have  suf 
fered  that  poor  boy  to  perish  when  you  might  have 
saved  him,  and  in  the  eyes  of  Heaven  you  are  re 
sponsible  for  his  murder." 

"  Murder !" 

Hartley  Brandon  was  not  a  brave  man.  He  was 
disposed  to  bully  and  threaten,  when  he  thought  he 
could  do  it  with  safety ;  but  when  he  was  opposed 
in  an  intrepid  and  fearless  manner,  his  tone  became 
milder  and  he  lowered  his  pretensions.  So,  in  the 
present  case,  it  startled  him  to  be  told  that,  in  failing 
to  take  means  for  the  rescue  of  Harry,  he  had  been 
accessory  to  a  murder,  and  he  began  to  have  un 
defined  apprehensions  of  the  possible  consequences 
of  his  neglect.  He  thought  it  best  to  exculpate  him 
self. 

"  Walk  in,  Mr.  Weldon,  and  sit  down,"  he  said. 
"We  will  talk  this  matter  over.  You  don't  under 
stand  all  the  circumstances." 

"I  hope  I  do  not,  Captain  Brandon,"  said  the 
young  man,  gravely.  "  I  do  not  wish  to  think  ao 
ill  of  you  as  I  fear  I  must." 


256  SINK  OR  SWIM;  on, 

"  The  boy  carelessly  fell  overboard,"  commenced 
the  captain. 

"Are  you  sure  he  fell?"  asked  the  supercargo, 
significantly. 

"Of  course  he  fell.  How  else  could  it  be?  I 
don't  understand  you." 

"It    seems  strange  that  he  should    be  so  care- 


"  That's  the  way  of  it.  He  didn't  deserve  to  be 
helped.  Can  I  be  expected  to  stop  my  ship  every 
time  a  careless  boy  takes  a  notion  to  fall  over 
board?" 

"  When  a  human  life  is  in  jeopardy,  Captain 
Brandon,  our  duty  is  to  save  it  if  we  can.  I  don't 
envy  the  man  who  at  such  a  time  can  stop  to  inquire 
whether  the  danger  is  the  result  of  carelessness  or 
not." 

The  supercargo  spoke  sternly,  and  the  captain 
felt  arraigned  for  his  action,  and  this  irritated 
him. 

"  I  have  to  think  of  my  ship,"  he  said. 

•'  In  what  way  would  it  have  injured  the  ship,  if 
fou  had  lowered  the  boat  for  Harry  ?  " 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  257 

9v  I  cannot  alford  to  lose  time." 

"  Have  you  thought  how  much  time  the  pooi  boy 
has  lost,  whose  life  is  probably  a  sacrifice  to  your 
criminal  negligence?  A  life  which,  in  all  prob 
ability,  would  have  been  prolonged  to  seventy, 
has  been  cut  short  at  fifteen.  Fifty-five  years  lost 
to  save  one  honr  in  the  voyage  of  the  Sea  Eagle !  " 
said  Weldon,  scornfully. 

"  I  am  not  responsible  to  you,  Mr.  Weldon,"  said 
Brandon,  with  irritation,  "  I  acted  as  I  thought 
for  the  best,  I  am  the  captain  of  this  ship,  not 
you." 

"I  am  aware  of  that.  Captain  Brandon.  But 
you  could  not  expect  me  to  stand  by  and  see  a 
human  life  sacrificed  without  uttering  my  earnest 
protest.  Any  life  would  be  worth  saving,  —  the 
life  of  this  bright,  manly  boy  more  than  most.  His 
death  lies  at  your  door." 

"  You  have  said  as  much  before,"  said  the  captain, 
sulkily.  "  If  you  have  no  more  to  say,  I  will 
trouble  you  to  leave  me  to  myself." 

"  I  have  something  more  to  say,"  said  the  super 
cargo,  regarding  the  captain  fixedly.  •'  I  am  aware 


258  SINK  OR  SWIM;  ox, 

of  the  manner  in  which  this  boy  was  entrapped  c* 
board  your  vessel.  What  motive  you  had  in  carrying 
him  away  from  home  and  friends  I  do  not  know. 
Vou  perhaps  know,  also,"  the  young  man  continued, 
•*  whether  in  leaving  him  to  his  sad  fate  you  are  not 
influenced  by  a  similar  motive." 

"What  do  you  mean,  Mr.  Weldon?"  demanded 
the  captain,  startled  by  the  words  and  tone  of  the 
other. 

4 1  mean  this :  that  in  this  whole  affair  there  is 
something  which  I  do  not  understand,  —  something 
that  has  excited  my  suspicions.  I  shall  feel  it  my 
duty  to  report  all  that  I  know  of  it  to  the  authorities 
at  the  first  opportunity." 

Brandon  turned  pale.  He  began  to  see  that  he 
had  made  a  mistake,  and  exposed  himself  to  grave 
suspicions.  It  would  have  been  better,  as  he  now 
perceived,  to  make  a  show  of  rescuing  our  hero.  It 
would  have  been  easy  to  secure  failure  by  unneces 
sary  delay.  The  threat  of  a  legal  investigation 
alarmed  him,  and  he  prepared  to  make  an  argument 
by  which  he  might  dispel,  if  possible,  the  impression 
which  had  been  created  in  the  mind  of  the  supercargo. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  259 

But  Mr.  Weldon  rose,  and  left  the  cabin  hastily. 
The  interview  had  been  a  most  unsatisfactory  one, 
and  nad  only  convinced  him  of  what  he  feared,  —  that 
the  captain  was,  in  reality,  either  glad  to  be  rid  of 
our  hero,  even  by  such  means,  or  else  indifferent  to 
his  fate.  He  was  inclined  to  believe  in  the  former 
theory.  What  he  had  said  of  laying  the  matter 
before  the  authorities,  he  was  fully  decided  upon. 
Now  the  vehemence  of  his  indignation  gave  place  to 
a  feeling  of  the  deepest  and  most  poignant  sorrow  for 
the  loss  of  the  boy  who  had  unconsciously  become 
very  dear  to  him.  He  thought  of  his  frank,  manly 
bearing,  of  his  pleasant  face,  of  his  courtesy  and 
politeness,  and  the  warm  and  generous  heart  of  which 
he  had  shown  himself  to  be  possessed,  and  then  of  the 
terrible  fate  which  had  so  unexpectedly  overtaken 
him,  and  the  tears  rose  unbidden  to  his  eyes.  By 
this  time,  doubtless,  Harry  was  beyond  human 
succor,  and  all  that  he  could  do  was  to  drop  a  tear  to 
his  memory.  He  went  up  to  Tom  Patch,  towards 
whom  the  sailor's  evident  grief  for  our  hero's  fate  had 
warmed  his  heart,  and  wrung  his  hand  heartily. 
"  He  was  a  noble  boy,  and  his  life  has  been 


260  SHTK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

fully  sacrificed,  Tom,"  he  said  ;  u  but  if  I  live,  the 
man  who  has  done  this  deed  shall  be  punished." 

4*  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  said  Tom,  whose  voice  was  gruff 
with  emotion  :  u  I  hope  you'll  stick  to  that.  He  was 
a  brave  lad,  and  the  captain  deserves  to  be  pitched 
after  him." 

Mr.  Weldon  paced  the  deck  till  far  into  the  night. 
Captain  Brandon  shut  himself  up  in  his  cabin,  and 
did  not  show  himself  till  morning.  He  had  made 
various  advances  towards  the  supercargo,  whom  he 
evidently  desired  to  conciliate,  from  prudential  inten 
tions  ;  but  the  young  man  met  him  with  a  freezing 
formality,  which  showed  him  that  all  hopes  in  that 
direction  were  futile. 

So  the  Sea  Eagle  sped  on  its  way,  till  at  length  it 
arrived  at  its  destined  port. 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVS.  261 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

ADKIFT. 

THE  attack  made  upon  our  hero  was  so  sudden  ancc 
ff  >  rapidly  executed,  that  there  was  no  opportunity 
f  xr  resistance.  Before  he  well  knew  what  had  hap- 
pened  to  him  he  found  himself  struggling  in  the 
ocean.  Instinct  led  him  to  strike  out.  In  response 
to  his  cry  the  plank  was  thrown  overboard,  as  we 
know.  He  saw  it  and  swam  towards  it.  Fortu 
nately  he  was  an  expert  swimmer,  and  had  no  diffi 
culty  in  reaching  it. 

He  got  upon  the  plank  and  supported  himself  by 
it.  Then,  for  the  first  time,  he  was  able  to  look 
towards  the  Sea  Eagle.  It  was  speeding  away  from 
him,  not  rapidly,  for  there  was  a  light  wind,  but 
surely. 

"  Surely  they  will  lower  a  boat  for  me,"  thought 
our  hero,  anxiously. 

He  had  heard  Tom  Patch's  shout   of  encourage- 


262  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OH, 

tnent,  and  he  knew  Tom  would  not  let  him  perish,  if 
he  could  help  it.  He  did  not  suspect  that  the  cap 
tain  would  be  inhuman  enough  to  refuse  assistance. 
So  he  gazed  anxiously,  but  still  hopefully,  at  the 
receding  ship,  wondering  why  there  was  such  a  delay 
in  getting  out  the  boat.  But  when  five  minutes  had 
elapsed,  and,  straining  his  eyes  in  the  uncertain 
light,  he  could  see  no  preparations  going  forward  for 
a  rescue,  the  thought  flashed  upon  him  in  all  its 
norror  that  he  was  to  be  left  to  his  fate.  And  what 
a  fate  !  Thousands  of  miles  from  home,  adrift  on  the 
vast  ocean,  with  only  a  plank  between  him  and 
destruction.  Could  anything  be  more  fearful  ? 

At  present  the  ocean  was  comparatively  calm. 
There  was  little  breeze,  and  so  no  high  waves  were 
excited.  He  could  float  without  any  great  difficulty 
in  clinging  to  the  plank.  But  this  could  not  be 
expected  to  last.  To-morrow  the  waves  might  sweep 
him  from  his  sole  refuge,  and  to  certain  destruction. 
Besides,  he  had  neither  food  nor  drink.  Even  were 
he  able  to  cling  to  the  plank,  hunger  and  thirst  would 
soon  make  Ms  condition  insupportable.  There  was 
itill  another  consideration.  It  would  not  do  for  MM 


BARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVK.  263 

to  sleep.  Should  be  lose  consciousness,  his  hold  of 
the  plank  would,  of  course,  relax,  and  he  would  be 
drowned. 

All  these  thoughts  crowded  upon  our  young  hero, 
and,  hero  though  we  call  him,  a  feeling  of  bitter 
despair  came  to  him.  Was  this  to  be  the  end  of  all 
his  glowing  hopes  and  bright  anticipations  of  future 
prosperity  ?  Was  he  never  to  see  his  mother  and  his 
little  sister  Katy  again?  He  felt  at  this  terrible 
moment  how  he  loved  them  both,  and,  anxious  as  he 
was  for  himself,  with  death  staring  him  in  the  face, 
he  could  not  help  thinking  how  his  death  would  affect 
these  dear  ones,  and  anxiously  considered  how  they 
would  be  able  to  get  along  without  him.  When  the 
property  was  gone,  how  would  his  mother  get  along? 

-'Oh,  if  I  could  but  live  for  mother  and  Katy ! " 
thought  the  poor  boy.  "  I  would  work  for  them 
without  a  murmur.  But  it  is  horrible  to  die  in  the 
wild  ocean  so  for  away  from  home." 

He  was  not  troubled  by  drowsiness,  for  in  the 
tumult  of  his  feelings  he  could  not  have  composed 
himself  to  sleep  under  any  circumstances.  His  mind 
was  preternaturally  active.  Now  he  thought  of  hia 


264  siirK  OR  awTM ;  OP,. 

mother,  now  of  his  school-mates,  and  his  ha}  ^ 
school-days  at  the  Vemon  High  School,  of  the  m^ny 
good  tiroes  he  had  enjoyed  hunting  for  nuts,  or  pick 
ing  berries,  or  playing  ball  with  the  boys.  Then  he 
thought  of  Squire  Turner,  and  wondered  how  he 
'would  feel  when  he  heard  of  his  death,  Would  he  be 
glad  that  there  was  no  more  chance  of  his  being  ex 
posed  as  the  incendiary  of  his  own  building  ?  Harry 
hardly  knew  what  to  think.  It  never  occurred  to 
him  to  suspect  that  Squire  Turner  was  responsible 
for  his  abduction  and  for  his  present  condition. 

So  the  night  wore  slowly  away.  When  the  first 
gray  streaks  of  dawn  broke  upon  the  ocean,  the  Sea 
Eagle  was  more  than  fifty  miles  away.  Harry  was 
still  wakeful.  His  intense  mental  action  had  kept 
sleep  at  a  distance. 

As  soon  as  the  light  had  increased  a  little  he  began 
to  look  about  anxiously  in  every  direction.  There 
was  one  chance  of  life,  and  he  clung  to  that.  He 
might  be  seen  from  some  approaching  vessel  and 
picked  up.  This  chance  was  small  enough.  The 
avenues  of  the  ocean  are  so  many  and  bo  broad,  that 
no  ship  can  be  depended  upon  to  keep  the  course  of 


SARRY  RAYMOND'?  RESOLVE,  268 

another  What  chance  was  there,  in  the  brief  time 
Harry  could  hope  to  hold  out,  that  any  vessel  would 
come  near  enough  for  him  to  be  seen  and  rescued  ? 

But  it  is  said  that  drowning  men  will  cling  to  a 
straw,  and  Harry  was  in  immediate  danger  of  drown 
ing.  His  thoughts  were  fixed  in  all  their  intensity 
upon  the  remote  contingency  of  a  vessel's  passing 
He  almost  forgot  that  he  was  hungry.  But,  as  the 
morning  advanced,  the  craving  for  food  made  itself 
unpleasantly  felt.  There  was  a  gnawing  at  his 
stomach  (for  he  had  eaten  but  lightly  the  evening 
before),  which  there  was  no  chance  of  appeasing 
Harry  knew  well  that  this  feeling  would  grow  strong 
er  and  stronger,  until  it  became  so  agonizing  as  to 
make  life  a  burden.  But  there  was  always  one  relief, 
though  a  desperate  one.  He  could  release  his  hold 
of  the  plank,  and  sink  down  into  the  deep  waves, 
which,  merciless  as  they  were,  were  more  merciful 
than  hunger  and  thirst,  for  while  the  first  brings  pro 
tracted  agony,  the  last  affords  a  speedy  relief  for  all 
trouble. 

After  a  while,  thirst  as  well  as  hunger  began  to 
torment    him.      The    salt   meat,   which   affords   the 


266  SINK  on  SWIM;  OR, 

staple  of  a  sailor's  diet,  induces  thirst  moie  rapidly 
than  ordinary  food.  So  by  noon  his  throat  was 
parched  with  thirst.  He  felt  the  tantalizing  charac 
ter  of  his  situation  ;  "  Water,  water  everywhere,  but 
not  a  drop  to  drink."  He  was  half  tempted  to  taste 
of  the  water  in  which  he  was  immersed  ;  but  he  knew 
that,  so  far  from  affording  relief,  it  would  only  entail 
additional  suffering,  and,  strong  though  the  tempta 
tion  was,  he  had  the  prudence  and  self-denial  to  for 
bear. 

Then,  besides,  partly  owing  to  his  sleeplessness, 
his  head  began  to  throb  with  pain,  and,  altogether, 
the  poor  boy's  situation  was  becoming  desperate.  It 
seemed  as  if  his  career  was  likely  to  terminate  very 
speedily. 

While  our  hero  is  in  this  precarious  condition,  we 
must,  for  a  brief  time,  change  the  scene. 

Sailing  steadily  towards  him,  though  he  knew  it 
not,  was  the  Australian  packet-ship  Rubicon,  bound 
from  Liverpool  to  Melbourne. 

It  was  a  pleasant  day,  and  most  of  the  passengers 
were  on  deck,  enjoying  the  calm  weather.  Some  had 
been  seasick  ;  but  even  those  who  were  most  inclined 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  267 

to  be  disturbed  by  this  most  disagreeable  of  maladies, 
could  find  no  good  cause  for  keeping  below  on  so 
pleasant  a  day.  The  sea  was  tranquil,  the  movement 
of  the  vessel  calm  and  steady,  and  as  such  days  are 
not  often  to  be  reckoned  upon,  the  passengers  deter 
mined  to  make  the  most  of  this. 

Among  the  passengers  were  David  Lindsay,  a  gen 
tleman  of  middle  age,  and  his  daughter  Maud,  a 
bright,  handsome  girl  of  thirteen.  Mr.  Lindsay  was 
a  London  merchant,  who,  partly  for  the  benefit  of  his 
health,  which  had  been  affected  by  too  great  devotion 
to  business,  partly  because  he  had  business  interests 
in  Australia,  had  decided  to  go  out  to  Melbourne  on 
a  <isit.  He  had  not  at  first  proposed  to  take  his 
daughter,  considering  her  too  young ;  but  she  was  an 
only  child,  and,  as  her  mother  was  dead,  had  been 
treated  by  her  father  more  as  a  companion  than  ia 
usual  with  girls  of  her  age.  So,  when  her  father  men 
tioned  his  plan,  Maud  at  once  said  confidently,  "  Oh, 
that  will  be  charming,  papa!  How  much  I  shall 
enjoy  it!" 

"How    much    you  will    enjoy  it,"    repeated  her 


2b8  SINK  OR 

father.  "  Well,  Maud,  I  can't  say  that  you*  remark 
J3  particularly  complimentary  to  me." 

"Why  not?"  asked  Maud,  innocently. 

"  I  tell  you  that  I  am  going  to  Australia,  —  a  jour 
ney  likely  to  keep  me  away  from  home  a  year  at 
least,  and  you  are  so  ready  to  part  with  me  thai  you 
say  at  once  that  it  is  charming." 

"  But,  papa,"  said  Maud,  "  we  shall  not  be  sepa 
rated  at  all." 

"  How  do  you  make  that  out  ?  " 

u  Of  course  you  are  going  to  take  me  with  you  1 M 
and  Maud  put  a  strong  emphasis  on  the  first  two 
words. 

"  You  seem  to  be  pretty  confident,  considering  that 
such  an  idea  never  entered  my  head,"  said  her  father. 

"  What,  papa  I  You  don't  mean  to  say  that  you 
thought  of  leaving  me  here  in  England  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  my  child." 

"  But  you  know,  papa,  I  can't  stay  away  from  you 
no  long.  I'm  sure  you're  going  to  take  me  with 
you."  And  she  put  her  arms  coaxingly  around  his 
neck. 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  269 

"  But  wjjat  is  to  become  of  your  education  in  the 
oean  time,  Maud  ?  " 

si  Oh,  that  can  wait." 

"  You  dispose  of  that  difficulty  very  easily,"  said 
her  father,  amused. 

"  Why,  you  see,  papa,  I  am  not  so  terribly  old 
Fve  got  plenty  of  time  before  me,  so  that  I  can  spare 
a  year  well  enough.  Besides,  I  shall  be  learning 
something  from  observation.  My  governess  says  that 
there  are  two  great  sources  of  instruction :  one  of 
these  is  the  study  of  books ;  and  the  other,  and  per- 
aaps  the  more  valuable  of  the  two,  is  the  right  use  of 
the  faculty  of  observation." 

In  saying  this  she  imitated  the  prim,  methodical 
tone  of  her  governess,  an  elderly  spinster,  at  whose 
little  peculiarities  Air.  Lindsay  had  often  been 
secretly  amused. 

He  laughed  outright  at  the  excellent  imitation 
given  of  Miss  Pendleton's  manner,  and  Maud  saw 
that  her  suit  was  half  won. 

44  You  ought  to  be  a  lawyer,  Maud,"  he  said, 
*  yon  are  so  good  at  special  pleading." 


270  SINK  OR   SWIM,    CM., 

"  That  means  that  I  am  going,  I  suppose,  papa?" 
said  Maud,  promptly. 

"  Not  so  fast.  I  have  got  to  think  it  over.  I 
must  ask  Miss  Pendleton  what  she  thinks  of  it." 

"  If  you  do,  papa,  will  you  be  kind  enough  to 
repeat  that  remark  I  made  about  the  two  sources  of 
knowledge?" 

"  No,  Maud,  I  don't  think  I  shall  venture  upon 
such  a  thing.  However,  I  will  take  your  request 
into  consideration." 

"  Into  a  favorable  consideration,  papa." 

"  As  to  that,  I  cannot  promise." 

Maud,  however,  felt  tolerably  assured  that  she  had 
gained  her  point,  as  indeed  she  had.  Mr.  Lindsay 
had  been  dreading  his  Australian  trip  mainly  be 
cause  it  would  separate  him  from  his  daughter.  Now 
he  began  to  look  forward  to  it  with  interest  and 
pleasure.  Strange  to  say,  the  thought  of  taking  his 
daughter  had  never  before  occurred  to  him.  Yet 
there  seemed  no  good  reason  for  not  doing  it.  She 
was  young,  and  there  was  plenty  of  time  to  obtain  an 
education,  as  she  had  herself  said.  Besides,  the 
remark  of  her  governess  had  considerable  truth  in  it. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S    RESOLl'X.  271 

Observation  would  be  a  valuable  source  of  informa 
tion. 

He  consulted  Miss  Pendleton,  offering  her  a  year's 
vacation  on  half  salary,  and  found  her  very  ready  to 
accept  it.  It  was  many  years  that  she  had  been 
teaching  in  different  families,  and  the  prospect  of  a 
year's  respite,  with  such  pecuniary  inducements  as 
would  relieve  her  from  loss  or  anxiety,  was  a  pleasant 
one.  It  would  enable  her  to  visit  the  family  of  a 
married  sister,  and  renew  the  familiar  intercourse 
which  her  mode  of  life  for  many  years  had  rendered 
impracticable. 

So  it  happened  that  when  the  packet  Rubicon 
sailed,  in  the  list  of  passengers  were  Mr.  David 
Lindsay  and  daughter. 

Mr.  Lindsay  was  sea-sick  a  fortnight,  Maud 
scarcely  at  all.  The  dismal  hours  in  which  he  was  a 
victim  to  this  disagreeable  complaint  were  made 
much  less  intolerable  by  the  services  and  bright, 
cheerful  companionship  of  his  daughter,  so  that  the 
merchant  more  than  once  felt  thankful  that  he  had 
yielded  to  her  entreaties,  and  made  her  the  com 
panion  of  his  trip. 


272  STNK  OR  SWIM;  ox, 

Maud  and  her  father  were  standing  by  the  side  of 
the  vessel,  looking  out  at  the  broad  waste  of  waters, 
without  any  definite  object  in  view.  Suddenly  Maud 
exclaimed,  "  Papa,  look  there,  and  tell  me  what  you 
see!" 

She  pointed  to  the  east.  He  shook  his  head. 
"  Your  eyes  are  better  than  mine,  Maud,"  he  said, 
"I  can  see  nothing." 

"  Papa/'  she  said,  energetically,  "  I  am  sure  I  can 
see  a  boy  in  the  water  supported  by  a  plank." 

The  captain  was  on  deck  with  his  sp3r-glass.  Mr. 
Lindsay  went  up  to  him  and  told  him  what  Maud  had 
said.  He  turned  his  glass  in  the  direction  indicated. 

"  The  young  lady  is  right,"  he  said.  "  It  is  a  boy 
adrift  upon  a  plank." 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVX.  273 


CHAPTER    XXVII 

NEW    FRIENDS. 

"  A  BOY  adrift !  "  repeated  Mr.  Lindsay.  "  How 
could  he  get  into  such  a  situation?" 

"  There  may  have  been  a  wreck,"  said  the  captain ; 
"though  I  can  see  no  other  indications  of  it,"  as 
through  his  glass  he  scanned  the  sea  in  the  neighbor 
hood  of  Harry. 

u  You'll  go  after  him,  won't  you,  Captain  Scott?' 
asked  Maud,  anxiously. 

"  Certainly,  my  dear  young  lady ;  I  will  save  him 
if  I  can." 

"  It  must  be  so  terrible  to  be  out  in  the  sea  with 
nothing  but  a  plank  to  hold  on  to,"  said  Maud,  sym 
pathetically.  "I  hope  he'll  hold  on  till  we  get 
there." 

"  He  lies  nearly  in  our  course.  In  twenty  minutes 
we  shall  reach  him." 

Meanwhile  Harry,  scanning  the  sea  anxiously,  had 

18 


274  SINK  OR  SWIM;  o/t, 

caught  sight  of  the  Rubicon.  A  wild  thrill  of  hop« 
stirred  his  heart.  Here,  at  last,  was  a  chance  of  life. 
But  would  they  see  him?  That  was  the  momentous 
question.  Had  he  anything  by  which  he  might 
attract  attention? 

He  felt  in  his  pocket,  and  drew  out  his  handker 
chief.  Had  it  been  dry,  he  could  have  waved  it 
aloft.  But  it  was  dripping  wet,  and  there  was  no 
wave  to  it.  His  spirits  began  to  sink.  But  there 
was  one  encouragement :  the  packet  was  heading 
for  him.  Though  he  might  not  be  seen  now,  he 
would  perhaps  be  able  to  attract  attention  when  the 
ship  drew  near. 

Fifteen  minutes  passed  in  the  most  anxious  sus 
pense.  How  much  depended  on  the  next  quarter  of 
an  hour !  In  that  time  it  would  be  decided  whether 
he  should  live  or  die.  Already  he  could  discern  the 
figures  of  the  passengers.  Was  it  a  delusion  ?  No, 
a  little  girl  was  waving  her  handkerchief  to  him.  He 
was  seen, —  he  would  be  rescued  !  He  became  so  weak, 
IB  the  tumult  of  his  sudden  joy,  that  he  released  his 
hold  of  the  plank  which  had  been  his  safeguard,  and, 
as  it  proved,  his  deliverance.  But  he  recovered  from 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  275 

DLS  weakness,  and  with  renewed  energy  clung  to  the 
pjank. 

Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  Rubicon.  He  saw 
preparations  for  lowering  a  boat.  The  boat  was  in 
the  water,  and  four  sturdy  sailors  impelled  it  towards 
him  with  vigorous  strokes.  Five  minutes  later  he 
was  helped  into  the  boat,  and  a  little  later  still  he 
clambered  on  board  the  Rubicon.  —  a  silent  praver 
of  thanksgiving  in  his  heart  to  the  Almighty  Father 
for  his  providential  rescue. 

"  Well,  my  lad,"  said  Captain  Scott,  advancing 
towards  him,  u  you've  had  a  pretty  narrow  escape 
We  don't  generally  stop  here  to  take  in  passengers/ 

u  Captain,"  said  Harry,  earnestly,  "  I  thank  you 
for  saving  my  life.  I  couldn't  have  held  out  much 
longer." 

•k  Xo,  I  should  think  not.  How  came  you  in  such 
a  pickle?  But  I  won't  ask  you  to  tell  the  story 
now.  You're  wet,  and  I  suppose  hungry." 

Our  hero  admitted  that  he  was  both  hungry  and 
thirsty,  having  been  without  food  or  drink  for  nearly 
twenty-four  hours. 

Luckily  there  was  a  boy  on  board,  of  about  Harry's 


276  turf  OR  smuf,   OR. 


size.  Oiir  hero  was  supplied  with  a  suit  of  \i\* 
clothes,  which  he  found  considerably  more  comforta 
ble  than  the  one  he  had  on,  which,  having  boon  sub 
jected  to  the  action  of  the  sea-water  for  twenty 
hours,  was  about  as  thoroughly  drenched  as  it  was 
possible  for  clothes  to  be.  After  being  provided 
with  dry  clothing,  Harry's  other  wants  were  attended 
to.  A  bowl  of  hot  coffee  and  a  plentiful  supply  of 
hearty  food  made  him  feel  very  much  more  at  his 
ease. 

He  was  now  called  upon  for  his  story.  This  he 
told  frankly  and  without  reservation  to  the  captain 
and  the  passengers  who  had  gathered  about  him. 
His  manner  was  so  modest,  manly,  and  self-possessed, 
that  no  one  for  a  moment  questioned  the  truth  of 
what  he  said,  and  all  were  prepossessed  at  once  in  his 
favor. 

"  Well,  youngster,"  said  Captain  vScott.  kv  it  appears 
that  you've  had  rather  a  rough  experience.  I'll  try 
to  treat  you  a  little  better  than  did  Captain  Brandon. 
We  sea-captains  are  not  all  black  sheep.  There  are 
some  of  us,  I  hope,  that  have  common  humanity." 

Captain     iScott    was    a    bluff,    hearty    sailor,    with 


XT.JL  RR  }     RA  IMOND'  S    RE  SOL  VE.  27  '< 

a  large  heart,  lull  of  kindly  impulses.  In  times  of 
danger  he  was  rough  and  dictatorial,  as  was  perhaps 
xieeessary,  but  at  other  times  he  followed  the  dictates 
of  a  kind  heart  and  generous  nature,  treating  the 
sailors  under  his  command  so  well  that  no  one  would 
leave  him  unless  obliged  to  do  so. 

Among  those  who  listened  with  the  greatest  interest 
to  Harry's  story  was  Maud  Lindsay.  When  it  was 
over  she  called  her  father  aside. 

"  Papa,"  she  said,  4v  I  have  a  favor  to  ask." 

"  Well,  puss?" 

"I  want  you  to  be  kind  to  this  boy,  —  Harry 
Raymond." 

"How  do  you  want  me  to  be  kind  to  him?" 

44 1  want  you  to  pay  his  passage  to  Melbourne,  and 
help  him  after  he  gets  there." 

44  Whew,  Maud  !  You  seem  to  have  taken  a  sudden 
interest  in  the  young  man.  i  suppose  you  will  be 
wanting  to  marry  him  when  we  get  to  Melbourne.'' 

44  Nonsense,  papa !  "  said  Maud,  blushing. 

44  Tell  me,  then,  why  I  should  spend  so  much 
money  on  a  stranger." 

4t  You  know  you've  got  plenty  of  money,  papa,  and 


'278  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

he  has  been  very  unfortunate.  He's  such  a  nice- 
looking  boy  too." 

"  I  suppose  if  he  were  only  unfortunate,  and  not 
nice-looking,  —  if  he  had  red  hair,  and  a  face  marked 
with  the  small-pox,  —  you  would  not  be  so  anxious 
to  have  me  help  him  along  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't  suppose  I  should  feel  quite  so  much 
interest  in  him,"  Maud  admitted.  "  Do  you  like 
homely  persons  as  well  as  handsome  ones,  papa?" 

"  Why,  that  is  rather  a  delicate  question  to  ask. 
A.11  I  can  say  is,  that  I  love  you  just  as  much  as  if 
you  were  good-looking." 

"  That's  as  much  as  to  say  I  am  not,"  returned 
Maud. 

"  I  didn't  say  so/' 

u  But  you  meant  so.  However,  everybody  says  I 
look  like  you ;  so,  if  I  am  homely,  you  are  also." 

"  You've  got  me  there,  Maud,"  said  Mr.  Lindsay, 
laughing.  "  After  this  I  shall  never  dare  to  question 
your  good  looks." 

"  You'll  do  as  I  want  you  to,  then,  papa  ? "  said 
Maud,  laying  her  hand  with  a  coaxing  gesture  on 
her  father's  arm. 


BARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE,  279 

•4 1  suppose  I  shall  have  to,"  said  her  father, 
smiling. 

44  That's  a  good  papa.     I'll  kiss  you  now/' 

"  I  will  submit  to  the  infliction  with  as  good 
a  grace  as  possible,"  said  Mr.  Lindsay,  with  a  comic 
look  of  resignation. 

It  will  be  perceived  that  the  relations  between  Mr. 
Lindsay  and  his  daughter  were  more  cordial  and 
affectionate  than  is  sometimes  the  case.  He  had  a 
warm,  kindly  nature,  and  the  death  of  his  wife  had 
led  him  to  centre  all  his  love  and  all  his  hopes  upon 
his  daughter,  who,  we  must  acknowledge,  was  attrac 
tive  and  lovable  enough  to  justify  any  father's  love 
and  pride.  Warm-hearted  and  impulsive,  she  won 
the  affection  of  all  who  surrounded  her,  and  had  even 
made  a  considerable  impression  upon  the  not  very 
eusceptible  heart  of  her  strait-laced  and  prim  gov 
erness,  Miss  Pendleton. 

Though  he  had  made  a  playful  opposition  to  the 
request  of  his  daughter,  Mr.  Lindsay  was  from  the 
first  favorably  disposed  towards  granting  it.  He,  too, 
had  been  pleased  with  the  frank,  manly  bearing  of 
Harry  Raymond,  and  had  been  interested  in  the  his- 


280  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

tory  of  his  life.  He  felt  impelled  to  help  him.  as  he 
could  well  afford  to  do,  and  to  make  up  to  him  for  the 
frowning  of  fortune  by  securing  to  him  a  more  pros 
perous  future. 

Accordingly  he  sought  Captain  Scott  immediately 
after  his  interview  with  Maud. 

"  I  want  to  speak  to  you  about  this  boy  you  have 
picked  up,  Captain  Scott,"  he  commenced. 

"  I  was  just  thinking  about  him  myself.  If  I  had 
anything  for  him  to  do,  I  would  let  him  work  his  pas 
sage.  As  it  is,  I  suppose  I  shall  have  to  give  it  to 
him.  But  that  won't  set  him  right  entirely.  He'll 
land  at  Melbourne  without  a  penny,  with  no  means  of 
reaching  home." 

"  I'll  relieve  you  from  all  anxiety  on  that  point, 
captain.  I've  taken  a  fancy  to  the  boy.  You  may 
charge  me  the  amount  of  his  passage-money,  and  I'll 
take  care  of  him  when  we  get  to  Melbourne." 

u  Thank  you,  Mr.  Lindsay  ;  but  if  you'll  do  the  last, 
I'll  give  hiu.  a  free  passage.  I  like  the  youngster 
myself,  and  am  milling  to  do  that  much  for  him." 

"  Then  suppose  we  call  him  and  let  him  know  what 


HA ft/i r  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  281 

we  propose  to  do  ?     No  doubt  he  is  feeling  somewhat 
anxious  about  his  future." 

Harry,  being  summoned,  presented  himself.  He  had 
meanwhile  learned  the  destination  of  the  Rubicon, 
and  had  hardly  made  up  his  mind  how  to  feel  about 
it.  With  a  boy's  love  of  adventure  and  strange  lands, 
he  was  fascinated  by  the  thought  of  seeing  Australia, 
of  which  he  had  heard  so  much.  Still  he  could  not 
help  reflecting  that  he  would  land  penniless,  sepa 
rated  by  half  the  earth's  circumference  from  his  home 
and  mother  and  sister  that  he  loved.  Could  he 
make  a  living  in  this  strange  land,  of  which  he  knew 
nothing,  and  coul;1  he  ever  earn  money  enough  in 
addition  to  pay  for  his  homeward  passage?  These 
were  questions  which  it  was  very  easy  to  ask,  but  not 
quite  so  easy  to  answer.  Still,  in  spite  of  his  doubts 
on  this  point,  his  situation  was  so  much  better  than  it 
had  been,  and  he  was  so  thankful  for  his  deliverance 
from  a  terrible  death,  that  he  was  disposed  to  regard 
the  future  hopefully. 

"  Well,  youngster,"  said  the  captain,  as  our  hero 
made  his  appearance,  "  I  suppose  you  are  ready  to 
settle  for  your  passage. " 


282  SINK  OR  SWIM;  o«, 

Harry  smiled. 

"  I  should  like  to,"  he  said,  u  but  I  haven't  got  a 
cent." 

"  Then  I  don't  see  but  1  shall  have  to  throw  you 
overboard  igain,  eh,  Mr.  Lindsay?" 

"  Can't  1  work  my  passage?"    suggested  our  hero. 

44  No,  we  are  full-handed.  However,  as  you  can't 
pay,  I've  about  made  up  my  mind  to  give  you  your 
passage  free." 

44  You  are  very  kind,  Captain  Scott,"  said  Harry. 

44  Quite  welcome,  my  lad.  Here's  a  gentleman  who 
will  do  more  for  you  than  I  can." 

44 1  suppose  you  have  felt  some  anxiety  about  how 
you  will  get  along  when  you  arrive  at  Melbourne  ?  " 
said  Mr.  Lindsay. 

Harry  admitted  his  anxiety. 

44  You  may  lay  aside  alj  apprehensions,  then.  I 
will  take  care  that  you  suffer  for  nothing,  and  will 
see  what  I  can  do  to  put  you  in  a  way  of  earning 
your  living." 

44  You  are  kinder  to  me  than  I  deserve,"  said  our 
bero,  surprised  and  grateful. 

44  J  do  this  at  my  daughter's  request,"   said  Mr. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLYE.  283 

Lindsay.  u  She  was  the  first  to  see  you  from  the 
deck,  and  now  she  has  asked  me  to  interest  myself 
in  your  favor." 

Harry  heard  this  with  pleasure.  He  had  noticed 
Maud  Lindsay,  and  had  been  quite  charmed  by  her 
bright,  attractive  face,  and  it  was  pleasant  to  him  to 
learn  that  she  felt  an  interest  in  him.  He  expressed 
his  gratitude  to  her. 

"  Come  with  me,"  said  Mr.  Lindsay,  "  and  you 
shall  thank  her  in  person." 

Harry  accompanied  his  new  friend  with  a  degree 
of  bashfulness,  for  he  was  not  much  accustomed  to 
young  ladies'  society.  But  he  soon  found  himself  at 
ease  with  Maud.  She  had  numberless  questions  to 
ask,  which  he  took  pleasure  in  answering.  Then  he, 
oo,  asked  questions  about  London,  where  she  had 
hitherto  lived.  So  they  got  on  excellently  together, 
and  for  the  remainder  of  the  voyage  were  almost 
inseparable.  But  upon  the  details  of  their  growing 
friendship,  however  interesting  to  the  parties  them 
selves,  I  have  no  room  to  speak.  Sea-life  is  monoto 
nous,  and  it  may  be  as  well  passed  over  briefly. 
Enough  to  say  that  the  weeks  sped  on,  and  at  length 


284  SINK  on  SWIM;  OR, 


pleasant  morning  the  Rubicon  ascended  the 
Ya-ra  Yarra  River,  and  the  impatient  voyagers  gazed 
with  eager  interest  at  the  principal  city  in  Australia, 
which,  with  its  handsome  buildings  and  wide,  straight 
,  now  lay  stretched  out  before  them. 


3ARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVR.  286 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

FIBST    IMPRESSIONS    OF    MELBOURNE. 

IT  will  readily  be  believed  that  our  hero  surveyed 
?nth  eager  interest  the  city  which  lay  before  him. 
Melbourne  was  not  so  large  and  populous  as  at  pres 
ent,  but  it  presented  an  unusually  lively  and  animated 
appearance.  It  was  in  the  height  of  the  gold  excite 
ment,  and  multitudes  had  flocked  thither  from  all 
parts  of  the  world,  so  that  representatives  of  every 
nationality  might  be  found  in  the  streets  of  Australia's 
capital.  But  we  are  anticipating  a  little. 

Mr.  Lindsay,  Maud,  and  Harry  stood  on  the  deck 
of  the  vessel,  waiting  for  the  ship  to  be  secured, 
that  they  might  go  on  shore.  Mr.  Lindsay's  mind 
was  quite  at  ease,  for  he  had  money,  and  money 
would  provide  him  with  all  the  comforts  and  luxuries 
which  he  could  desire.  But  with  Harry  it  was  dif 
ferent.  He  realized  the  helplessness  of  the  situation, 
and,  despite  his  pluck,  it  made  him  feel  a  little 


286  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

uneasy.  He  knew  that  Mr.  Lindsay  had  an  interest 
in  him,  but  he  did  not  like  to  presume  upon  that 
interest. 

"  Well,  my  boy,"  said  Mr.  Lindsay,  "  are  you 
ready  to  go  on  shore  ?  " 

Harry  hesitated. 

"  I  should  like  to  go,"  he  said. 

"  I  have  just  ordered  my  trunks  brought  on  deck," 
said  the  merchant.  "  In  half  an  hour  I  think  we 
may  be  on  shore." 

"  Then  I  will  bid  you  good-by,  sir,"  said  Harry. 

"  Good-by !     What  for  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Harry,  what  for?"  echoed  Maud. 

"  Because  we  are  going  to  part." 

u  No,  we  are  not.     You  are  going  with  us." 

"  But,"  said  Harry,  hesitating,  "  I  could  not  afford 
to  stop  where  you  do." 

"Don't  trouble  yourself  about  that,"  said  Mr. 
Lindsay,  kindly.  "  I  fee'  an  interest  in  you,  and  so 
does  Maud." 

"  Of  course  I  do,"  said  Maud,  so  decidedly  that 

Harry  brushed,  not  being  accustomed  to  hear  himself 

x 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  287 

spoken  of  in  snch  such  complimentary  terms  by  a 
young  lady. 

"Therefore,"  proceeded  Mr.  Lindsay,  "I  mean 
to  take  you  on  shore  with  me,  and  I  will  afterwards 
give  you  time  to  form  your  plans,  in  which  I  shall 
give  you  such  assistance  as  I  can." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  sir,"  said  Harry,  gratefully. 

"  Then  you  will  go  with  us,  Harry,"  said  Maud, 
44  won't  you?" 

"  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  do  so,"  said  Harry.  "  Yoi 
are  very  kind  to  me,  Miss  Lindsay." 

"  Miss  Lindsay !  "  repeated  the  young  lady,  imp* 
tiently.  "  What  makes  you  call  me  that  ?  " 

"  Isn't  it  your  name?"  asked  Harry,  smiling. 

"  No,  it  isn't.  At  any  rate  you  are  not  to  call  me 
so.  Call  me  Maud." 

"  Well,  Maud,  I  will,  if  you  want  me  to." 

"  Certainly  I  do.  I  wish  we  could  go  on  shore ; 
I  am  tired  of  staying  here." 

They  had  not  long  to  stop,  however.  They  were 
soon  on  the  pier,  where  a  number  of  carriages  were 
waiting  to  convey  passengers  to  the  various  hotels. 
Mr.  Lindsay  had  previously  inquired  which  was  the 


288  SWK  OR  SWIM;  o/z, 

best  hotel  in  the  city,  and  gave  directions  to  the 
driver  to  convey  him  thither.  As  I  uo  not  wish  to 
discriminate  in  favor  of  any  particular  hotel,  I  shall 
call  it  by  an  assumed  name,  "  The  Tasmania  Hotel." 

It  had  a  handsome  appearance,  being  located  on 
Collins  Street,  which  is  the  principal  business  street 
in  Melbourne.  This  street  is  about  one  third  wider 
than  Broadway,  and  had,  even  in  the  days  of  which  I 
am  writing^  many  handsome  shops  and  imposing 
buildings. 

"  I  didr't  know  Melbourne  was  such  a  nice  place," 
said  Maud,  looking  about  with  satisfaction.  "  Why, 
they've  got  as  nice  shops  here  as  they  have  in  Lon 
don." 

"  Yes,  Melbourne  is  quite  an  enterprising  city," 
gaid  Mr.  Lindsay. 

"  I  like  it  better  than  London  for  one  reason,"  con 
tinued  Maud. 

"What  is  that?" 

"It  is  brighter  and  more  cheerful.  In  London  it 
is  almost  always  foggy." 

"  I  should  like  to  deny  that,  being  a  true  Briton," 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  289 

said  Mr.  Lindsay ;  "  but  I  ain  afraid  I  must  admit 
that  London  is  open  to  that  objection." 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  I  am  going  to  do  this  afternoon 
papa." 

"Well,  what  is  it?" 

"  I'm  going  out  shopping." 

*'  I  am  afraid  I  can't  go  with  you  this  afternoon, 
Maud.  I  shall  be  occupied  with  business." 

"  There  is  no  need  of  your  going  with  me,  papa." 

"  But  I  should  not  be  willing  to  have  you  go  alone, 
Maud,"  said  her  father. 

"  I  don't  mean  to  go  alone.  Harry*!!  go  with  me, 
And  protect  me,  only  I  don't  think  I  shall  need  any 
protection  ;  but  it'll  be  pleasant  to  have  him  go." 

"  If  he  is  willing  to  go,  I  have  no  objection." 

"  You'll  come  with  me,  Harry,  won't  you?"  asked 
Maud. 

"  I  shall  be  very  happy  to  accompany  you, 
Miss  —  " 

Here  Maud  held  up  her  finger  warningly. 

"  I  mean  Maud,"  said  our  hero. 

"  Then  that's  settled.     We'll  have  lots  of  fun." 

"  I   am    afraid  that  is   not  quite   the   way  young 

19 


290  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

ladies  ought  to  talk,"  said  her  father.  "  What  would 
your  governess  say  ?  " 

"  Poor,  dear  old  lady  1  she'd  be  shocked,  I  know 
she  would.  She  wanted  me  to  be  as  prim  and  stupid 
as  herself.  But  I  can't  be,  papa.  It  is  not  in  me." 

"  No,  I  don't  think  it  is,"  said  her  father,  smiling. 

They  were  assigned  pleasant  rooms  in  the  hotel ; 
In  fact,  the  best  in  the  house.  Mr.  Lindsay,  though 
not  an  extravagant  man,  was  always  liberal  in  aL 
his  arrangements  when  travelling ;  and  now  espe 
cially,  when  he  had  his  daughter  with  him,  he  was 
resolved  to  spare  no  expense  to  secure  such  comforts 
as  could  be  procured.  Harry  also  was  provided  with 
a  pleasant  apartment  on  the  same  floor.  Mr.  Lind 
say  might  easily  have  secured  for  him  a  cheaper  one 
on  an  upper  floor ;  but  he  was  apparently  resolved 
to  treat  Harry  as  if  he  were  a  member  of  his  own 
family. 

They  ordered  an  early  dinner,  being  tired  of  ship 
fare,  and  anxious  for  the  fresher  vegetables  and  meat 
which  could  be  obtained  on  shore.  According  to  the 
English  system,  they  took  their  meal  privately  in  Mr. 
Lindsay's  apartment.  It  proved  to  be  well  cooked, 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE,  291 

and  of  good  quality,  and  each  of  the  three  did  full 
justice  to  it. 

When  the  meal  was  over,  Mr.  Lindsay  said  :  — 

"  I  must  go  out  now  and  make  a  business  call, 
leaving  you  young  people  to  your  own  devices." 

"  We'll  go  out  shopping  and  sight-seeing,  papa,  a* 
I  told  you." 

"  Don't  go  too  far,  or  you  might  get  lost." 

"Never  fear  that.  But  there's  one  thing  you 
mustn't  forget,  papa." 

"What  is  that?" 

"  What  does  a  young  lady  always  want  when  she 
goes  out  shopping  ?  " 

"  Some  money?" 

"  You've  guessed  right  the  first  time." 

"You  won't  want  much.  What  do  you  wish  to 
buy?" 

"  I  can't  tell,  papa,  till  I  see  what  they  have  got 
to  sell." 

"  Here,  then,"  said  Mr.  Lindsay,  placing  two  gold 
sovereigns  in  his  daughters  hand.  "  Mind  and  don't 
spend  it  foolishly." 


292  srjyjr  on  SWIM;  OR. 

u  Did  you  ever  know  me  spend  money  foolishly, 
papa?" 

"  Well,  perhaps  I  had  better  not  express  myself  on 
that  point.  Good-by  for  a  few  hours." 

Mr.  Lindsay  went  out,  and  Maud  and  Harry  soon 
followed  They  walked  along  Collins  Street,  looking 
about  them  with  eager  interest.  They  met  German, 
English,  French,  Chinese  ;  in  fact,  types  of  nearly  all 
nationalities.  This  seemed  more  strange  to  Maud 
than  to  Harry,  for  in  New  York  the  latter  had  been 
accustomed  to  see  a  mingling  scarcely  less  great  of 
heterogeneous  elements.  But  in  London,  or,  at  any 
rate,  in  those  parts  with  which  Maud  was  familiar, 
there  was  far  less  diversity. 

"  1  like  this,"  said  Maud,  with  satisfaction. 
"  Everything  looks  so  new  and  strange.  It's  ever  so 
much  better  fun  than  being  in  London.  Besides,  if  I 
were  in  London,  instead  of  having  you  to  walk  about 
with  me,  I  should  have  a  stiff  old  governess  calling 
out  every  moment,  4  You  should  be  more  particular 
about  your  deportment,  Miss  Maud.'  Now  I  know 
vou  won't  say  anything  about  my  deportment." 


BARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  293 

»*  No,  I  think  not,"  said  Harry.  "  I  don't  know 
what  a  young  lady's  deportment  ought  to  be." 

"  I'm  glad  of  that,  for  you  won't  be  turning  up  the 
whites  of  your  eyes  at  me  in  horror  at  anything  I  say 
or  do.  Oh,  there's  some  ribbon  I  want !  Do  you  see 
't  in  that  window  ?  Come  in  with  me,  Harry." 

They  went  in,  and  Maud  made  a  purchase  of  some 
ribbon,  which  she  declared  to  be  of  a  lovely  shade. 

Now  it  must  be  confessed  that  Maud  sometimea 
allowed  her  high  spirits  to  carry  her  too  far.  She 
was  of  an  excitable,  impulsive  temperament.  StilJ 
her  impulses  were  generous  and  kindly,  and  in  spite 
of  her  faults  she  was  unusually  attractive,  and  it  was 
difficult  not  to  be  won  over  by  her  frank,  affectionate 
manner.  So  Harry,  who  was  not  much  used  to  the 
society  of  young  ladies,  and,  as  he  said,  did  not  very 
well  know  what  deportment  was  proper  for  them, 
considered  Maud  to  be  very  agreeable,  and  felt  grate 
ful  for  her  kindness  to  himself. 

After  buying  the  ribbon,  Maud  walked  on  for  some 
little  distance  till  she  came  to  a  gentleman's  furnish* 
ing  store. 

"  I  want  to  go  in  here,  Harry,"  she  said. 


294  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR* 

"They  only  sell  articles  for  gentlemen  in  there," 
said  Harry. 

"Never  mind,"  said  Maud.  "I  know  what  1 
want.  Come  in." 

Entering  the  shop,  Maud  took  the  lead,  and, 
advancing  to  the  counter,  asked  the  shopman:  — 

"  Will  you  show  me  some  of  your  cravats  ?  " 

"For  yourself,  miss?"  asked  the  shopman,  sur 
prised.  "We  don't  keep  ladies'  goods." 

"  No,  for  this  young  gentleman,  my  cousin,"  she 
added,  looking  at  Harry. 

"  But,  Maud,  you  mustn't  buy  anything  for  me," 
Interposed  Harry,  in  a  low  voice. 

"  Yes,  I  shall,"  said  Maud.  "  I  don't  like  your 
cravat  at  all.  I'm  going  to  buy  you  a  nice  one." 

Harry  continued  to  remonstrate,  but  he  found  that 
opposition  only  made  Maud  more  determined.  So 
he  was  obliged  to  submit,  while  she  purchased  for 
him  two  handsome  neckties. 

"There,  Parry,'  sh«  said,  placing  tkem  in  his 
hand,  as  they  left  the  shop,  "  I  expect  you  to  put  on« 
of  them  on  as  soon  as  you  get  home." 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  FESOLVK.  295 

"What  will  your  father  say,  Maud?"  asked 
Harry.  "Perhaps  he  won't  like  it." 

"You  don't  know  papa,"  said  Maud.  "  He  will 
only  laugh.  Now  will  you  promise  ?  " 

u  I  am  sure  I  am  much  obliged  to  you.  I  wish  I 
could  buy  you  a  present.  Perhaps  I  may  be  able  to 
some  time." 

"  There,  don't  say  anything  more  about  it.  What 
a  lot  of  carriages  there  are  in  the  street !  —  almost 
as  many  as  in  London." 

The  street,  in  fact,  was  lively  with  a  continued 
line  of  cabs,  drays,  and  vehicles  of  various  kinds, 
presenting  a  spectacle  more  animated  than  might  be 
expected  of  a  city  of  the  size.  But  Melbourne, 
though  at  this  time  it  contained  but  a  hundred  thou 
sand  inhabitants,  had  a  very  large  foreign  trade  with 
the  principal  ports  not  only  of  Europe  but  of  the 
United  States.  This  had  been  largely  increased  by 
the  gold  discoveries,  —  those  who  were  lucky  at  the 
mines  being  prodigal  in  their  purchases  of  articles  of 
luxury  as  well  as  necessity.  Then  there  was  a  large 
export  trade  in  wool,  hides,  and  country  produce 


296  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

from  the  interior,  especially  in  the  two  former,  foi 
Australia  is  a  great  grazing  country. 

u  I  wonder  what  building  that  is !  "  said  Harry, 
soon  afterwards. 

He  pointed  to  a  very  handsome  structure  in  the 
Italian  style,  on  the  corner  of  Bourke  and  Elizabeth 
Streets.  It  was  adorned  with  sculptures,  and  looked 
new.  In  fact,  it  had  just  been  opened  to  the  public. 

"  That,"  said  a  gentleman,  who  overheard  him,  "  is 
our  new  post-office." 

"  That  reminds  me,"  said  Harry,  "  I  must  write 
home  to-night,  to  let  my  mother  know  where  I  am." 

In  fact,  Harry  did  write  that  same  evening,  and 
gave  the  letter  to  a  servant  at  the  hotel  to  post.  The 
latter  carelessly  lost  the  letter,  and  then,  being  afraid 
of  blame,  falsely  assured  Harry  that  he  had  posted  it. 
So  the  fates  were  once  more  against  Mrs.  Raymond, 
and  the  missive  which  would  have  cheere  d  her  heart 
got  swept  into  a  waste-basket,  and  was  consumed 
with  other  papers  of  no  value. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  297 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

HARRY  FORMS  HIS  PLANS 

A  RTEEK  slipped  away  very  pleasantly.  Mr.  Lind 
say  was  considerably  occupied  by  business,  bat  he 
seemed  satisfied  to  trust  Maud  to  the  companionship 
of  Harry.  Together  they  went  about  the  city  sight 
seeing.  They  visited  the  several  pleasure-grounds  in 
the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  city,  among  them 
the  Carlton  and  Fitzroy  Gardens.  Maud  freely  de 
clared  that  she  had  never  had  so  good  a  time  in  her 
life.  Harry  also  enjoyed  it ;  but  every  now  and 
then  the  thought  would  force  itself  upon  him  that  he 
ought  to  be  doing  something.  At  present  he  was 
penniless,  and  but  for  the  liberality  of  Mr.  Lindsay 
would  have  hardly  known  what  to  do.  Besides  this, 
he  felt  that  he  ought  to  be  earning  money  to  get 
aorne  with.  He  could  not  help  feeling  anxious  about 
his  mother  and  sister. 

So  one  evening,  after  they  had  returned  from  an 


298  SINK  on  SWIM;  OR, 

exclusion  to  the  Yan  Yean  Water-works,  about  eigh 
teen  miles  distant  from  the  city,  Harry  ventured  to 
ask  an  interview  with  Mr.  Lindsay. 

"  Maud,  you  may  go  out  a  few  minutes,"  said  her 
father,  "  while  Harry  speaks  with  me." 

"  He  won't  mind  me.     Will  you,  Harry?" 

"  A  little,"  said  our  hero. 

"I  didn't  know  you  had  any  secrets  from  me," 
said  Maud,  reproachfully. 

"  The  secret  is  not  a  very  great  one,"  said  Harry. 
"  I  may  tell  you  afterwards." 

"  Now,  Harry,"  said  Mr.  Lindsay,  after  Maud  had 
left  the  room. 

"I  wanted  to  consult  you  about  my  plans,  Mr. 
Lindsay,"  said  Harry.  "I  think  I  ought  to  go  to 
work." 

"  Are  you  discontented?" 

uNo,  sir;  you  and  Maud  have  been  very  kind, 
much  kinder  than  I  deserve.  I  don't  like  to  feel  that 
you  are  paying  all  my  expense?." 

"  Ir  return,  you  relieve  me  of  a  goxxi  deal  of  care 
by  undertaking  the  charge  of  Maud.  If  I  had  not  a 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  299 

great  deal  of  confidence  in  you,  I  would  not  be  will 
ing  to  leave  you  together  as  much  as  I  have." 

"Thank  you  for  your  confidence,  Mr.  Lindsay," 
said  Harry.  u  I  hope  you  will  find  that  I  deserve  it. 
I  am  glad  if  I  have  been  able  to  make  you  any  return 
for  your  kindness.  Still  I  cannot  help  feeling,  for 
my  mother's  sake,  that  I  ought  to  find  something 
to  do,  in  order  that  I  may  return  home  as  soon  as 
possible." 

"  I  might  offer  to  pay  your  passage  back  to  New 
York,"  said  Mr.  Lindsay ;  "  but  if  I  were  in  your 
place,  now  that  you  are  out  here,  I  should  wish  to 
sta}  a  few  months.  You  may  never  again  have  a 
chapce  to  visit  Australia,  and  it  is  worth  exploring. 
You  can  write  to  your  mother,  so  as  to  relieve  her 
from  anxiety." 

"  I  have  done  so  already,"  said  Harry. 

"  ThaL  's  well.  Now  have  you  any  plans  of  youi 
own  ?  If  ycu  have,  and  will  state  them,  I  will  give 
you  my  advi^  as  to  their  wisdom." 

"  I  have  been  hearing  a  good  deal  of  the  gold 
mines,"  said  Harry,  "  and  I  think  I  should  like  to 
try  my  luck  in  them.  Yesterday  I  saw  a  miner  who 


500  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OH, 

had  just  returned  to  Melbourne,  after  working  six 
months.  In  that  time  he  made  ten  thousand  dollars, 
which  he  brought  with  him.  He  is  an  American, 
and  means  to  return  to  New  York  by  the  next 
steamer," 

"  Yes,  there  are  such  cases  of  extraordinary  luck  ; 
but  I  hope  you  won't  be  too  sanguine,  or  you  will,  in 
all  probability,  be  disappointed.  It  is  not  every  one 
who  earns  even  a  thousand  dollars  in  that  time." 

"I  know  that,"  said  Harry.  "Still,  my  chance 
would  be  as  good  as  any,  and  I  might  be  lucky.  At 
any  rate,  I  have  nothing  to  lose,  and  should  see 
something  of  the  country." 

"  That  is  true.    Well,  when  do  you  want  to  start  ?  " 

"  I  should  like  to  start  as  soon  as  possible." 

"  Let  it  be  next  Monday  morning,  then.  I  will 
take  care  that  you  don't  go  empty-handed." 

**  I  don't  think  you  ought  to  give  me  so  much,  Mr. 
Lindsay." 

"  Leave  me  to  decide  that.  Now  shall  we  call  in 
Maud  ?  I  suppose  she  is  tormented  by  curiosity  to 
know  what  we  are  talking  about." 

44  The  reason  I  did  not  want  to  speak  before  hei 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  301 

was,  tha*  I  was  afraid  she  would  urge  me  not  to  go 
away." 

"  Yes,  she  will  miss  you  very  much  ;  but  we  shall 
expect  to  hear  from  you,  and  to  see  you  again  soon, 
if  only  on  a  visit." 

As  Harry  anticipated,  Maud  strenuously  opposed 
his  plan  ;  but  our  hero  felt  that,  however  pleasant  it 
might  be  to  remain,  it  was  his  duty  to  go.  It  was 
of  course  very  agreeable  to  enjoy  the  luxurious 
accommodations  of  a  first-class  hotel ;  but  all  this 
was  not  advancing  him  in  life,  and,  however  kind 
Mr.  Lindsay  might  be,  he  felt  a  degree  of  delicacy  in 
living  at  his  expense. 

Monday  morning  soon  came.  Mr.  Lindsay  called 
Harry  aside,  and  said :  — 

"  My  young  friend,  you  will  need  some  money  to 
start  with.  In  this  purse  you  will  find  fifty  sover 
eigns  (about  two  hundred  and  filly  dollars  in  gold). 
I  think  it  will  support  you  till  you  can  earn  some 
thing." 

"But,  Mr.  Lindsay,"  said  Harry,  quite  over 
whelmed  by  this  munificent  gift,  "  I  ought  not  to 
accept  so  much  money." 


802  SINK  on  SWIM;  OR, 

"My  young  friend,  when  I  was  a  boy,  I  met  ft 
friend  who  took  an  interest  in  me,  and  helped  me  on. 
I  will  try  to  do  the  same  by  you.  I  am  a  rich  man 
and  can  afford  it.  Say  no  more  about  it,  but  if  you 
need  more,  or  get  into  any  difficulty,  let  me  know, 
and  I  will  do  what  I  can  to  help  you." 

Our  hero  clasped  the  hand  of  the  generous  mer 
chant  warmly. 

"  I  wish  I  knew  how  to  thank  you,"  he  said. 

"  You  can  do  so,  by  justifying  my  good  opinion  of 
you,  Harry,"  said  Mr.  Lindsay,  kindly. 

"  I  will  try  to  do  that  at  least,"  said  Harry,  ear 
nestly.  "I  will  never  forget  your  generous  kind 
ness." 

That  afternoon  Harry  started  for  the  gold-diggings. 
He  did  not  go  alone.  He  was  fortunate  enough  to  fall 
in,  at  one  of  the  hotels,  with  a  man  of  middle  age, 
a  rough-looking  man  to  appearance,  but,  as  Harry 
afterwards  discovered,  a  man  of  warm  heart  and 
much  kindness.  This  wag  the  way  the  acquaintance 
was  made. 

Harry  overheard  him  speaking  of  the  mine*,  front 


HARRY  RAJMOND'S  RESOLFE.  303 

which  he  said  he  had  only  recently  returned.     When 

he  had  finished  speaking,  Harry  said :  — 
"  May  I  speak  to  you  a  minute,  sir  ?  " 
"  An  hour  if  you  like,"  said  the  other,  kindly. 
"  I  wanted  to  ask  you  something  about  the  mines." 
"Are  you  thinking  of  going  there?"  asked  the 

stranger,  surveying  him  attentively. 
"  Yes,"  said  Harry. 
"It  is  a  rough  sort  of  life  you  will  have  to  lead 

there,  my  boy." 

"  I  expect  so,  but  I  think  I  can  rough  it,  for  a  time 

at  least." 

"  Well,  if  you  have  good  pluck  I  have  nothing  to 

say.     But  it  aint  everybody  that  succeeds." 
"  No,  sir,  I  suppose  not ;  but  I  have  a  chance." 
"  At  any  rate  I  have  no  right  to  dissuade  you,  for 

I  was  successful." 

"  Are  you  willing  to  tell  me  about  it?  " 
"  No  objection  at  all.     I  was  there  four  months. 

In  the  first  three  I  didn't  pay  expenses,  but  in  the 

fourth  month  I  more  than  made  up  for  all  my  ill  luck. 

How  much  do  you  think  I've  got  lodged  with  my 

bankers  here  ?  " 


804  sis'K  <>R  SWIM;  o/^ 

"  A  thousand  dollars  ?  " 

"  A  thousand  dollars  seven  times  over.  Eight 
thousand  dollars  I  cleared  in  that  last  month,  and 
seven  of  it  I  have  salted  down." 

Harry's  eyes  sparkled. 

u  I  only  wish  I  could  be  as  fortunate,"  he  said, 
earnestly. 

"  What  would  you  do  with  your  money  then  ?  * 
asked  the  other. 

"  I  would  take  care  of  my  mother,  and  make  her 
comfortable." 

"  Tell  me  about  your  mother,  that  is,  if  you  don't 
mind.  I've  got  nobody  belonging  to  me,  more's  the 
pity,  and  perhaps  that's  the  reason  why  I  like  to  hear 
about  other  people's  relations." 

Harry  thereupon  began  to  relate  his  story,  and, 
assured  by  the  stranger's  manner  that  he  was  inter 
ested,  kept  on  to  the  end. 

"  You've  had  bad  luck,  boy,"  he  said,  at  the  end ; 
"  but  maybe  it'll  turn  out  for  the  best.  Perhaps  you 
have  been  sent  to  this  out-of-the-way  part  of  the 
world  on  purpose  to  make  your  fortune.  Who 
knows?" 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  306 

*'  I  wish  it  might  turn  out  eo." 

kt  I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do,"  said  the  stranger.  "  I 
didn't  mean  to  go  back  to  the  mines.  Seven  thou 
sand  dollars  was  enough  for  me ;  but  I've  a  great 
mind  to  go  back  with  you." 

u  I  wish  you  would,"  said  Harry.  "  Td  like  to  go 
with  somebody  that  knows  the  mines,  and  can  help 
me  with  his  advice." 

"I  will  go  then,"  said  the  other,  emphatically. 
"  Now  tell  me  when  you  want  to  go." 

"  Next  Monday." 

'''That  will  suit  me  as  well  as  any  time.  Fm 
beginning  to  get  tired  of  the  city.  There  is  nothing 
to  do  here.  There's  something  in  the  wild,  free  life 
of  the  mines  that  I  like.  It's  agreed  then  ;  we'll  go 
together." 

"  Yes,"  said  Harry,  "  and  I  am  very  glad  that  I 
have  secured  company." 

"  So  am  I.  There's  no  one  out  there  that  I  cared 
to  make  a  friend  of.  It's  'every  man  for  himself,  and 
devil  take  your  neighbor.'  Perhaps  I  was  as  bad  as 
the  rest.  But  I  feel  an  interest  in  you,  and  whether 
you  find  any  gold  or  don't  find  any,  you'll  need  a 


306  SINK  on  SWIM;  OR, 

friend.  Perhaps  you'll  need  one  more  if  you  are  suc 
cessful  than  if  you  fail.  What  is  your  name  ?  " 

"  Harry  Raymond." 

"  And  mine  is  John  Bush.  I  would  give  you  my 
card  if  I  had  any,  but  they  don't  care  about  such 
things  at  the  mines.  Will  you  take  supper  with 
me?" 

"  No,  thank  you ;  I  shall  be  expected  back." 

"Have  a  cigar,  then?" 

"  I  never  smoke,  Mr.  Bush." 

"So  much  the  better,  Harry.  But  ifs  second 
nature  to  me,  and  I  can't  leave  off.  Let  me  see,  what 
day  is  it?" 

"  Friday." 

"Then  Monday  we  will  start.  Call  and  see  me 
before  that  time." 

"  I'll  call  to-morrow  afternoon." 

"  Very  good.  Well  arrange  then  all  that  needi 
arranging." 

So  they  parted. 

Bush,  as  Harry  saw,  was  rather  rough  in  his  man 
ners,  but  he  seemed  kindly.  He  felt  fortunate  iD 
meeting  him,  for  his  advice  would  be  valuablet 


BARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVR*  307 

especially  as  he  had  been  successful.  Besides,  as  he 
began  to  understand,  the  undertaking  upon  which  he 
was  about  to  enter  was  one  of  difficulty  and  perhaps 
clanger,  especially  for  one  so  young,  and  he  would 
be  the  better  for  a  friend  like  Bush.  He  saw  him 
again,  as  promised,  on  Saturday,  and  got  a  list  of 
things  which  the  miner  informed  him  would  be  nec 
essary. 


$08  SINK  ox  SWIM;  on* 


CHAPTER    XXX, 

THE   VICTORIA    GOLD   MINES. 

FOUR  weeks  had  passed.  The  scene  has  changed 
for  Harry.  He  is  no  longer  living  in  a  first-class 
city  hotel  on  the  fat  of  the  land,  but  is  k'  roughing  it " 
at  the  Victoria  mines,  seventy  miles  north-west  of 
Melbourne. 

These  diggings  were  of  limited  extent,  occupying 
not  above  a  square  mile ;  but  this  square  mile  was  a 
scene  of  extraordinary  animation  and  activity.  Scat 
tered  over  it  were  hundreds  of  miners,  rough-bearded, 
and  clothed  with  little  regard  to  taste  or  elegance. 
They  represented  many  countries,  differing  widely  ex 
cept  in  being  all  occupied  by  one  engrossing  passion, 
the  love  of  gold.  Some,  rough  as  they  now  look,  had 
been  gentlemen  at  home,  fastidious  in  their  dress  and 
personal  appearance,  but  not  to  be  recognized  now, 
so  much  were  they  changed.  Others  had  always  been 
roughs,  and  this  life  which  they  wet1?  now  leading 


HAXRY  RAYMOND'S 

was  little  adapted  to  improve  tkern  But  it  is  not 
necessary  to  speak  of  the  mines  in  general.  Our 
interest  is  confined  to  two,  and  thesn  two  are  of 
course  Harry  and  his  adviser  and  friend  John  "Rush. 

At  the  moment  of  my  introducing  them  once  more 
to  the  reader,  Bush  was  seated  upon  the  ground 
smoking  a  pipe,  while  Harry  wras  carefully  inspecting 
the  back  of  a  shovel,  from  which  he  had  just  been 
washing  some  earth,  in  search  of  particles  of  gold. 

44  Do  you  find  anything,  boy?"  asked  Bush,  taking 
nis  pipe  from  his  mouth. 

Harry  came  nearer,  that  Bush  might  examine  fat 
himself. 

*<  Yes,"  he  said,  "  there  is  a  little." 

"  lt;s  the  only  gold  I  have  found  to-day." 

uYes,  lad,  we  are  not  growing  rich  very  fast, 
that's  a  fact.  We've  been  at  work  more  than  three 
weeks,  and  I  don't  think  we  have  netted  five  ounces." 

"  No,"  said  Harry. 

I  may  remark  here  that  an  ounce  is  worth  not  far 
from  twenty  dollars.  It  follows  accordingly  that  the 
amount  referred  to  represented  ieea  than  a  hundred 
dollars. 


S10  SINK  on  SWIM;  o&, 

"Fll    tell    you    what   I  have   been  thinking  ol, 

Harry,"  said  Bush. 

"What  is  it?  " 

44 1  think  our  chances  will  be  better  farther  up  the 
hill.  Here  we  may,  if  we  are  lucky,  get  three  ounces 
a  week,  —  probably  not  as  much.  What  I  watnt  ia 
a  nugget." 

"  But  that  isn't  so  easy  to  find,"  said  Harry. 

"  No,  that's  true ;  but  they  are  found,  for  all  that. 
Shall  I  tell  you  what  has  made  me  think  of  it 
most?" 

"  Yes,  if  you  wilL* 

Bush  lowered  his  voice. 

44  Do  you  see  that  spot,  about  half  a  mile  away, 
where  that  rough,  gray  rock  stands?" 

"  Yes." 

44  Three  nights  ago  I  dreamed  that  I  found  a  big 
nugget  within  a  yard  of  that  rock.  Now,  1  never  put 
much  faith  in  dreams;  but  I've  had  that  same  one 
twice  since." 

44  You  have  ?  "  said  Harry,  interested. 

44  Yes,  and  you  know  what  they  say,  4the  third  time 
never  fails/  I'm  not  over-superstitious,  Harry,  but 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLFE.  811 

it's  my  idea  that  dream  means  something.  WLat  do 
you  say?" 

44  It  is  very  singular,  at  any  rate,"  said  Harry. 

44  At  any  rate,  I've  a  mind  to  see  what  it  means, 
if  it  means  anything.  So  I'm  going  to  leave  you 
here,  and  go  up  there.  If  I  find  nothing,  well  and 
good,  I'll  come  back.  If  I'm  lucky,  we'll  share  the 
good  luck.  What  do  you  say  ?  " 

4k  That  you  are  very  generous,  Bush."  Harry  had 
come  to  call  him  so,  for  they  are  not  very  ceremoni 
ous  at  the  mines. 

44  Wait  till  you  have  something  to  thank  me  for." 

The  next  morning,  accordingly,  Harry  was  left 
alone.  He  worked  all  day  without  meeting  with 
much  success.  All  the  gold  he  found  probably  would 
not  have  amounted  to  fifty  cents,  and  that  was  not  a 
very  liberal  compensation  for  the  long  and  tiresome 
labor  needed. 

At  nightfall  Bush  came  back. 

44  Well,  Bush,"  gaid  Harry,  "  have  yon  met  with 
any  success?" 

44  No,"  said  Bush;  "and  I  didn't  expect  any,  not 
to-day." 


312  SWK  OR  SWIM;  as, 

-Why  not?" 

44  Because  it's  only  the  first  day." 

ki  Still  you  might  find  something  the  first  day. 
Did  you  find  nothing?  " 

"  Yes,  a  few  grains  of  gold ;  but  that  I  did  not 
cnre  for.  I'm  after  a  nugget.  You  don't  understand 
what  I  mean  by  the  first  day.'* 

"  No." 

"  I  had  that  dream  three  times,  you  know,  Harry," 
said  the  miner,  lowering  his  voice.  "  It's  impressed 
on  my  mind  that  if  I  find  anything  it'll  be  on  the 
third  day." 

*-  Perhaps  you  will,"  said  our  hero,  who  was  im 
pressed  by  the  evident  earnestness  of  his  companion. 
"  At  any  rate,  I  hope  so." 

The  next  morning  Bush  left  Harry,  and  returned  to 
the  rock. 

While  Harry  was  at  work,  meeting  with  a  little 
more  success  than  the  day  before,  a  rough  fellow, 
Henderson  by  name,  lounged  up  to  him. 

"  What  luck,  comrade?"  he  asked. 

"  Not  much,"  said  Harry.  "  I  haven^t  made  my 
fortune  vet." 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLD  a.  318 

"  Nor  I,"  said  Henderson,  emphasizing  the  declar 
ation  with  an  oath.  "  I've  had  cursed  bad  luck  all 
along." 

This  was  not  surprising,  for  Henderson  was  a  lazy, 
shiftless  fellow,  whose  main  idea  was  to  make  a 
living  without  earning  it.  He  had  come  from  Lon 
don,  where  his  reputation  was  none  of  the  best,  and 
had  haunted  the  mines  for  a  considerable  time.  He 
worked  at  mining  by  fits  and  starts,  but  never  long 
enough  to  gain  anything.  At  one  time,  indeed,  he 
appeared  to  have  considerable  money,  with  which  h« 
returned  to  Melbourne,  where  he  soon  got  rid  of  it. 
Where  he  got  this  money  was  a  mystery.  But  it 
happened,  by  an  unfortunate  coincidence,  that  just  at 
that  time  a  poor  fellow  who,  by  hard  labor,  had  man 
aged  to  collect  about  fifty  ounces  of  the  precious 
metal,  suddenly  found  himself  stripped  of  everything. 
There  were  some  who  suspected  Henderson  of  know 
ing  something  of  this  gold,  and  where  it  went  to ;  but 
nothing  could  be  proved,  and  so  of  course  nothing 
was  done.  Harry  had  seen  him  more  than  once,  and 
he  understood  very  well  what  sort  of  a  character  he 


314  SINK  OR  SWIM;  oit, 

was ;  so,  at  present,  he  hoped  that  the  fellow  would 
soon  leave  him. 

"  Where's  your  pal?"  asked  Henderson. 

"You  mean  Bush?" 

44  Who  else  should  I  mean  ?  " 

"  He's  trying  another  place." 

"Whereabouts?" 

Harry  pointed  out  Bush  further  up  the  bill.  The 
distance  being  but  quarter  of  a  mile,  it  was  possible 
to  distinguish  him. 

"  What  sent  the  fool  up  there?" 

"  He  is  not  a  fool,"  said  Harry,  shortly. 

"  Call  him  what  you  like ;  he's  a  fool  if  he  expects 
to  find  anything  up  there." 

"  He  has  his  reasons,"  said  Harry. 

"What  are  they?"  inquired  Henderson,  growing 
attentive. 

"  You  must  ask  him  if  you  want  to  know,"  said 
Harry. 

Henderson  went  off  whistling,  and  our  hero,  on 
thinking  the  matter  over,  was  rather  sorry  that  he 
had  hinted  as  much  about  his  friend's  reasons  for 
going  up  the  hill.  Having  a  very  poor  .opinion  of 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE-  315 

Henderson,  he  feared  that  the  latter  would  watch  and 
find  out  if  anything  of  importance  were  discovered, 
and  this  was  hardly  desirable  in  a  district  where  the 
ordinary  restraints  of  law  were  relaxed,  and  cupidity 
often  led  to  violence.  At  any  rate,  Harry  deter 
mined  to  put  Bush  on  his  guard. 

"  Bush,"  he  said,  when  the  latter  returned,  "  Hen 
derson  has  been  asking  about  you  to-day.  He 
thought  you  were  a  fool  to  go  up  there  after  gold." 

"  Let  him  think  so  if  he  likes." 

"  But  I  am  afraid  you  will  think  that  I  am  the 
fool." 

"Why  so?" 

"  Because  I  told  him  you  had  reasons  for  going 
there." 

•'Just  as  well  not  said,  my  lad:  but  no  harm's 
done." 

"  Have  you  found  anything  yet?" 

"  No ;  but  if  a  only  the  second  day,  you  remem 
ber." 

"  You  still  think  that  the  third  day  will  be  th« 
lucky  one?" 

u  Yes,  if  any." 


OR  SWIM;  OK, 

"  That  is  tomorrow." 

"  Yes,  tomorrow  will  decide.  If  I  don't  find  any 
thing  tomorrow,  I  shall  give  it  up  for  a  bad  job,  and 
come  back." 

They  had  a  tent  just  off  the  grounds.  Here  they 
slept  and  lived,  cooking  their  food,  and  keeping 
house,  if  it  may  be  called  so.  When  the  day's  work 
was  over,  Bush  generally  sat  down  at  the  door  of  the 
tent,  and  smoked  a  pipe.  He  tried  to  induce  Harry 
to  do  the  same ;  but  our  hero  had  never  touched 
tobacco,  and  had  no  cravings  for  it.  So  he  always 
declined. 

When  the  pipe  was  smoked,  Bush,  if  he  happened 
to  feel  in  a  communicative  mood,  often  related  inci 
dents  from  his  life,  which  had  been  an  adventurous 
one.  To  these  narrations  Harry  always  listened  with 
interest. 

"  Fve  been  a  rolling  stone,  Harry,"  said  his  com- 
panion.  "  It  might  have  been  different ;  but  all  that 
belong  to  me  are  dead.  There's  nobody  I  feel  an 
interest  in  except  you.  I'm  going  to  keep  track  of 
you,  and  when  I  die,  if  I  leave  anything,  you  shaU 
have  it." 


MARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  317 

44  Don't  talk  about  dying,"  said  Harry.  •'  Perhaps 
you'll  live  longer  than  I." 

•4  Perhaps  so ;  but  I'm  a  deal  older,  my  lad. 
There's  more  chance  for  you." 

Bush  was  a  man  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  Harry 
built  no  hopes  on  this  promise.  He  only  thought 
that  it  was  very  kind,  and,  it  being  his  nature  to 
repay  kindness  with  kindness,  he  felt  drawn  to  his 
rough'  companion  more  closely  on  learning  of  his 
intention. 

The  next  morning  Bush  returned  to  his  digging  on 
the  uill-side,  and  Harry  continued  at  the  same  place, 
meeting  with  a  little  success,  but  not  much.  How 
ever,  there  were  some  who  worked  for  months  with 
less  encouragement,  and  finally  met  with  a  streak  of 
luck.  So  Harry  did  not  lose  hope,  though  he  felt 
liiat  it  was  tantalizing  and  trying  to  the  patience. 

At  nightfall  Bush  came  back.  Before  he  had  come 
up  to  him,  Harry  read  in  his  excited  look  that  some 
thing  had  happened. 

"  What  luck?  "  he  asked. 

Bush  looked  about  him  cautiously.  There  were 
two  men  within  hearing  distance,  so  he  lowered  his 


318  SINK  on  SWIM;  OR, 

tone.  He  only  uttered  five  words,  but  they  were  of 
such  a  character  that  Harry  became  no  less  excited 
than  he. 

"  The  dream  has  come  true ! " 

This  was  what  he  said,  and  Harry  understood  at 
once. 

"  Let  us  go  and  take  a  walk,  my  iad." 

Harry  eagerly  complied  with  his  invitation,  and 
they  wandered  away  till  they  were  out  of  earshot  of 
any  one. 

•*  Now  tell  me  all  about  it,"  said  he. 

44  It  was  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,"  said 
Bush ;  "  the  day  was  nearly  gone,  and  I  began  to 
think  what  a  fool  I  was  to  place  such  dependence 
upon  a  dream,  even  if  it  were  three  times  repeated. 
However,  it  was  only  the  loss  of  three  days,  and  that 
wasn't  much ;  so  little  harm  was  done,  if  all  came  to 
nothing.  Of  course  I  wasn't  going  to  give  up  till 
the  day  was  over.  Just  as  I  was  thinking  this,  sud 
denly  I  struck  against  something  hard.  I  kept  on, 
not  hoping  much,  till  I  brought  out  a  nugget,  —  a 
stunner,  I  tell  you/' 

44  How  much  would  it  weigh  ?  "  asked  Harry. 


HARRY  RAYXONLfs   RX SOLVE.  8J9 

" I  hefted  it,"  said  Bush,  "  and  it  doesn't  weigh  an 
ounce  less  than  twenty-five  pounds." 

Twenty-five  pounds !  Harry  held  his  breath  in 
astonishment  and  delight.  He  performed  a  rough 
calculation  hastily  in  his  head,  and  it  dawned  upon 
him  that  the  nugget  must  be  worth  at  least  five  thou 
sand  dollars  I 

That  was  pretty  good  for  one  day's  work. 


os,  SWIM;  cut. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

THE   DEATH   OF   BUSH. 

"  WHERE  is  the  nugget?    What  did  you  do  with 

it  ?  "  inquired  Harry. 

"  I  buried  it  in  the  spot  where  I  found  it,"  said 
Bush.  "  I  didn't  dare  to  bring  it  here  in  open  day. 
There  are  worthless  fellows  enough  hereabouts  that 
wouldn't  hesitate  to  take  my  life,  for  the  sake  of  it." 

"  But  you  can't  help  its  being  found  out  that  you 
have  it." 

"  No  more  I  can ;  but  in  an  hour  after  it  is  known 
I  start  for  Melbourne." 

"  Will  you  go  to-morrow?" 

"Yes,  my  lad,  we  will  both  go  to-morrow.  It's 
share  and  share  alike,  you  know.  Half  the  nugget  is 
yours,  and  if  anything  happens  to  me  the  whole,  and 
all  the  money  I  have  in  Melbourne." 

u  Thank  you.  Bush ;  but  I'd  rather  you'd  enjoy  it 


HARRJ  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE .  321 

yourself.  I'd  return  the  compliment,  but  I'm  afraid 
all  the  money  I  have  wouldn't  help  you  much." 

"  You're  young  yet.  There's  time  enough  for  yon 
to  become  rich,  as  I  doubt  not  you  will." 

About  half-past  nine  o'clock  Bush  and  Harry  threw 
themselves  down  in  the  shadow  of  their  tent,  and 
courted  sleep.  They  did  not  take  the  trouble  to  un 
dress,  but  merely  wrapped  themselves  in  blankets 
and  lay  down. 

UI  feel  more  sleepy  than  usual,"  said  Bush. 
"  Maybe  it's  the  excitement  of  finding  the  nugget." 

"  That's  what  keeps  me  awake,"  said  Harry. 

As  he  spoke  he  began  to  listen  intently. 

"  What's  the  matter?"  asked  Bush. 

44 1  thought  I  heard  somebody  just  outside." 

"  Somebody  passing  on  their  way  to  their  own 
tent." 

"  It  may  be  so.  I  hope  whoever  it  is  didn't  hear 
what  you  said  about  the  nugget." 

"  They  wouldn't  find  it  here,  at  any  rate.  Good 
night,  Harry." 

"  Good-night." 

Bush  turned  over,  and  it  was  not  long  before  his 

21 


322  SINK  OR  SWIM;  o/t, 

deep  breathing  indicated  that  he  was  fast  asleep. 
Harry,  on  the  contrary,  was  wakeful.  He  had  a  ner 
vous,  restless  feeling,  as  if  something  were  going  to 
happen,  though  his  forebodings  were  indefinite,  and 
took  no  decided  shape. 

At  length  he  fell  into  a  light  slumber.  How  long 
it  lasted  he  could  not  tell.  But  all  at  once  he  awoke, 
to  find  a  man  bending  over  Bush  with  a  knife  in  his 
hand.  He  uttered  a  cry  of  horror,  and  sprung  to  his 
feet,  but  too  late !  The  knife  descended,  penetrating 
the  breast  of  the  ill-fated  miner,  who  awoke  with  a 
groan. 

"  Give  me  the  nugget  quick,  boy,  or  I'll  serve  you 
the  same  way,"  said  the  murderer,  turning  to  Harry. 

By  the  uncertain  light  Harry  recognized  Hender 
son. 

"  Wretch  I "  he  exclaimed,  in  a  tone  of  horror. 
"  what  have  you  done?  " 

44  There's  no  time  for  talking,"  said  Henderson, 
fiercely ;  "  give  me  the  nugget,  or  (here  he  interpo 
lated  an  oath)  I'll  send  yon  after  Bush." 

He  raised  his  knife,  but  Harry  was  too  quick  for 
him.  Fearing  danger  in  some  /brm,  he  had  placed 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  323 

Bush's  revolver  in  his  pocket  when  he  lay  down.  He 
drew  it  out  suddenly,  and,  presenting  it,  fired.  The 
charge  took  effect  in  Henderson's  right  shoulder. 
With  an  oath  he  dropped  the  knife,  and,  staggering 
out  of  the  tent,  fell  just  outside. 

"  Well  done,  my  lad  !  "  said  Bush,  feebly. 

u  Are  you  much  hurt,  Bush  ?  "  asked  Harry,  bend 
ing  over  the  sufferer,  and  speaking  anxiously. 

"  He's  done  for  me,  Harry.  I  shan't  live  till 
morning," 

"Don't  say  that,  Bush.  Perhaps  you're  not  so 
much  hurt  as  you  think  for." 

"  There's  no  hope,  lad.  I'm  going  to  die.  I  don't 
know  why,  but  I  had  a  presentiment  that  death  wasn't 
far  off." 

By  this  time  the  occupants  of  two  neighboring  tenta 
had  come  up.  Seeing  Henderson  lying  groaning  just 
outside,  they  entered  and  asked  what  was  the  trouble. 

It  was  soon  explained. 

Now  Bush  was  popular  among  the  miners,  and 
Henderson  the  reverse,  his  character  being  thoroughly 
understood. 

u  We'll  hang  him  to  the  nearest  tree,"  they  said, 


324  SINK  OR  SIVIM;  OR, 

"Wait  till  tomorrow."  said  Harry.  "Then  let 
the  whole  company  of  miners  decide  what  is  to  be 
done." 

To  this  at  length  they  assented,  but  cast  glances 
far  from  friendly  at  the  prostrate  wretch,  with  whose 
groans  of  pain  were  now  mingled  appeals  for  mercy 

"  Comrades,"  said  Bush,  feebly,  "  come  here  a 
moment,  I've  something  to  say," 

"Say  on.  Bush." 

"That  wretch  has  killed  me.  To-morrow  won't 
find  me  alive.  That  I  know  full  well.  Now  I  want 
you  to  witness  that  this  lad  here  is  to  have  all  I  pos 
sess.  There's  a  matter  of  fourteen  hundred  pounds 
with  Bird  &  Bolton,  bankers  in  Melbourne,  and  what 
I  have  here  the  lad  knows.  He  is  to  have  all.  Do 
you  understand  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Bush." 

"  Tve  paper  and  ink  in  my  tent,"  said  one ;  "  Fll 
bring  them,  and  draw  up  a  line  to  that  effect,  wVich 
yon  shall  sign  if  you  can." 

**  Do  so,  and  quick,"  said  Bash. 

In  fiye  minutes,  the  paper  was  brought.  an*  th« 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLD ~&<  326 

man  who  proposed  this  plan,  after  asking  Harry's 
name,  wrote  as  follows :  — 

»*  I,  John  Bush,  being  about  to  die,  bequeath  to 
Harry  Raymond,  here  present,  all  that  I  have,  namely, 
fourteen  hundred  pounds  in  the  hands  of  Bird  &  Bol- 
lon,  bankers  of  Melbourne,  and  whatever  I  may  leave 
tore." 

"  I  don't  know  whether  that* s  ship-shape,"  said  the 
v  'iter ;  "  but  if  you  can  sign  it,  we  will  witness  it, 
arvi  I  think  it  will  do." 

The  pen  was  placed  in  Bush's  fingers,  and  he  suc- 
2eeded  with  some  difficulty  in  affixing  his  signature, 
after  which  he  sank  back  exhausted.  The  three  men 
who  had  come  up  put  down  their  names  as  witnesses, 
or  rather  two  of  them  did,  and  the  third,  who  was 
unable  to  write,  made  his  mark. 

"I'm  glad  that's  done,"  said  Bush,  a  smile  of  sat 
isfaction  crossing  his  face.  "  I  can  die  more  content 
Give  the  paper  to  the  lad." 

The  paper  was  handed  to  Harry,  who  received  It 
with  much  emotion. 


326  SINK   OR   SWIM,"    OJR, 

"  Thank  you,  Bush,'*  he  said  ;  "  but  Fd  ten  times 
rather  you'd  live  to  enjoy  this  money  yourself." 

"  I  don't  doubt  it,  lad  ;  but  it  wasn't  to  be.  I  hope 
the  money'll  give  you  pleasure.  Then  I  can  think 
that  I  have  done  some  good." 

The  three  men  who  had  witnessed  the  paper  next 
turned  their  attention  to  Henderson. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  me?"  he  asked, 
nervously. 

"  You'll  see  in  the  morning,"  said  one,  grimly. 

He  was  securely  bound,  and  carried  to  one  of  the 
tents,  where  he  was  kept  under  secure  guard.  Mean 
while  Harry  watched  beside  the  suffering  man. 

"  I  wish  there  was  a  doctor  near  by,"  he  said. 

"No  doctor  could  do  me  any  good  now,"  said 
Bush.  "  I've  got  my  death-wound." 

Indeed  it  seemed  so.  The  knife  had  done  its  work 
so  surely  that  not  all  the  doctors  in  the  world  could 
have  saved  the  miner  from  death.  About  four  o'clock 
In  the  morning  he  died.  Then  Harry,  exhausted  vith 
watching,  fell  asleep  beside  his  dead  comrade, 
slept  heavily  till  he  was  aroused  by  a  rough  shake. 


SARRJ  RAYMOND'S  RB SOLVE.  327 

He  looked  up,  and  recognized  one  of  the  three  mem 
who  had  come  to  their  tent  the  night  before. 

"  Are  you  coming  to  see  Henderson  swing?"  lie 
asked. 

"What?" 

"  We've  tried  him,  and  he's  to  be  hong  as  soon  M 
they  can  get  a  rope." 

Justice  is  swift  in  mining  communities.  It  was 
not  yet  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  but  the  guilty 
man  had  already  been  tried,  and  punishment  was  to 
be  inflicted. 

Harry  shuddered. 

"  No,"  he  said ;  "  I  don't  want  to  tee  it." 

"  He  killed  your  friend." 

"  I  know  he  did ;  but  I  pity  the  poor  wretch.  I 
suppose  he  ought  to  be  punished ;  but  I  don't  want  to 
see  it." 

"  You're  too  soft-hearted ;  but  just  as  you  like." 

An  impromptu  gallows  had  been  erected,  and  a 
rope  was  soon  forthcoming.  Henderson  was  dragged 
to  it,  pale  and  trembling,  imploring  mercy  at  every 
step.  But  there  was  no  mercy  in  the  hearts  of  the 
rough  men  who  had  him  in  charge.  He  had  foully 


328  SINK  OR  BWIM;  oa, 

murdered  one  of  their  number,  and  they  were  deter 
mined  that  he  should  pay  the  penalty.  Among  the 
hundreds  who  participated  in  the  scene,  there  were 
others  perhaps  as  reckless  and  criminal  as  he,  who, 
exposed  to  the  same  temptation,  would  have  acted 
in  the  same  manner.  But  they,  too,  heaped  execra 
tions  upon  the  guilty  man,  as  he  cowered  under  the 
gaze  of  the  vindictive  mob,  and  were  apparently  as 
anxious  as  any  that  justice  should  be  done.  It  might 
have  been  from  policy,  but,  at  all  events,  Henderson, 
as  he  glanced  despairingly  from  one  face  to  another, 
did  not  encounter  one  kindly  or  pitying  look.  The 
only  one  who  pitied  him  was  the  boy  whose  friend 
had  been  stricken  down  at  his  side,  and  he  was  not 
present. 

I  shall  not  linger  on  the  details  of  the  execution. 
No  one  of  my  readers,  I  am  sure,  can  take  pleasure 
(n  such  a  scene. 

Half  an  hour  after,  as  Harry  still  lay  in  his  tent, 
a  miner  came  to  him. 

"  Is  it  all  over?  "  aaked  Harry,  sick  at  heart. 

fc<  Yes,  it's  all  over.    Henderson  won't  prowl  round 


RAYMOND'S  xxsoLns.  829 

During  the  day  Bosh  was  buried.  The  funeral 
ceremonies  were  slight.  A  grave  was  dug  on  the 
hill-side,  and  the  body  was  lowered  down,  and  hastily 
covered  over.  Harry  procured  a  piece  of  board,  which 
he  set  up  for  a  gravestone,  cutting  on  its  surface,  as 
well  as  he  could,  his  friend's  name  in  rude  capitals,  — 
JOHN  BUSH. 

He  took  into  his  confidence  the  three  miners  who 
have  been  already  spoken  of,  and  told  them  about  the 
nugget,  feeling  that  it  might  prove  a  source  of  danger 
to  himself  as  well  as  Bush,  unless  he  availed  himself 
of  the  assistance  of  others.  He  offered  to  divide  a 
thousand  dollars  between  them,  if  they  would  help 
him  to  get  it  safe  to  Melbourne.  He  had  another 
reason  also  for  desiring  their  company.  They  were 
witnesses  to  the  paper  which  Bush  had  signed,  and 
Harry  thought  it  probable  that  their  presence  and 
testimony  might  be  needed  to  satisfy  Bird  &  Bolton, 
first  of  the  death  of  Bush,  and  next  of  his  rightful 
claim  to  the  money  belonging  to  the  deceased,  which 
the  firm  had  on  deposit. 

The  three  miners  were  quite  willing  to  accompany 
Hairy,  The  sum  which  he  offered  them  would  prob- 


830  SINK  OM  SWIM;  OJT, 

ably  far  exceed  their  earnings  during  the  time  occu 
pied,  even  alter  deducting  all  necessary  expenses. 
A  day  later,  therefore,  Harry,  escorted  by  his  three 
mining  acquaintances,  with  the  costly  nugget  ia 
charge,  started  on  his  return  to  Melbourne. 


MA&MJ   RAYMOND'S   RESOLVE.  331 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

• 

HARRY   DECIDES   TO  LEAVE    AUSTRALIA. 

k4  1  WISH  Harry  were  here,"  said  Maud  Lindsay, 
discontentedly.  "  If  s  to  lonesome  since  he  went 
away." 

"  Upon  my  word,  that  is  complimentary,"  said  her 
father.  "  You  don't  appear  to  value  my  company." 

u  Of  course  I  do,  papa;  but  then  you  know  you 
are  away  a  good  deal  of  the  time.  Besides,  you  are 
older  than  I  am." 

44  That  is  unfortunately  true.  I  beliere  most 
fathers  ar*  older  than  their  daughters."  / 

44  Have  you  heard  from  Harry  yet?  " 

44  Not  since  the  letter  of  last  week.  He  reported 
ihen  that  he  had  not  found  much  gold." 

44 1  wish  he  would  make  his  fortune  quick,  so  that 
tie  could  come  back." 

44 1  begin  .to  think  you're  in  lore  with  Harry, 
Maud/' 


832  siXK  OR  SWIM;  0*, 

44 1  begin  to  think  so  too,  papa.  Would  you  object 
to  him  for  a  son-in-law?" 

44  Just  at  present  I  might.  I  don't  think  you  are 
old  enough  to  be  married/* 

44  Don't  be  foolish,  papa.  Of  course  I  don't  want 
to  be  married  till  I  am  old  enough." 

44 1  can't  promise  so  long  beforehand.  Besides,  it 
is  just  possible  that  Harry  may  have  somebody 
else." 

44 1  hope  he  won't,"  said  Maud.  "We  just  suit 
each  other." 

44  You  speak  confidently,  Maud.  Perhaps  you  may 
change  your  mind." 

44  No,  I  shan't,"  said  Maud,  positively.  44  If  1 
don't  marry  Harry  Raymond,  I'll  be  an  old  maid." 

This  conversation  took  place  on  the  morning  of 
Harry's  return  to  Melbourne.  Indeed,  Maud  had 
hardly  ceased  speaking  when  a  knock  was  heard  at 
the  door.  Maud  rose  to  open  it.  She  was  over 
whelmed  with  delight  when,  in  the  visitor,  in  spite 
of  his  rough  garb,  she  recognized  our  hero,  the  loss 
of  whose  company  she  had  been  deploring. 


3AP.RY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  333 

"  O  Harry,  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you ! "  she 
exclaimed,  actually  hugging  Harry  in  her  delight. 

Harry  was  rather  embarrassed  at  the  unexpected 
warmth  of  his  reception,  but  felt  that  it  would  be 
impolite  not  to  kiss  Maud  in  return,  and  accordingly 
did  so. 

*l  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Harry/'  said  Mr.  Lindsay, 
advancing  to  meet  him.  "Have  you  just  arrived 
from  the  mines?" 

"  Yes,  sir/' 

"  I  hope  no  ill  luck  has  hurried  you  back.** 

44  Partly  ill  luck,  and  partly  good  luck.  Bu8h 
found  a  nugget  of  gold  worth  at  least  five  thousand 
dollars." 

"  Then  you  had  nothing  to  do  with  finding  it?" 

"  We  were  partners,  and  h*  insisted  that  half  of 
it  belonged  to  me." 

"  That  was  generous.  So  you  have  oocae  back  to 
dispose  of  it.  Is  Bush  with  you?" 

"  No,"  said  Harry,  soberly.     "  He 

"  Dead !     Why,  that  is  sudden." 

"  I  will  tell  you  about  it  " 

"  Sit  right  down  here,  and  tell 


384  SINK  OK  SWIM;  on, 

Harry  seated  himself,  and  gave  a  brief  account  of 
the  murderous  attack  upon  Bush,  and  his  death,  men 
tioning  in  the  conclusion  that  he  was  the  heir  of  the 
miner's  property. 

"  Let  me  see  the  paper,"  said  Mr.  Lindsay. 

Harry  exhibited  the  paper  signed  by  Bush  just 
before  he  died. 

"  Who  are  the  witnesses  whose  names  are  written 
here?" 

"  The  three  men  who  came  up  at  the  time  of  the 
murder." 

"  You  will  have  to  send  for  them  to  prove  the 
validity  of  this  document,  and  satisfy  the  bankers 
chat  you  are  the  Harry  Raymond  to  whom  the  money 
is  bequeathed." 

"  They  are  here  in  Melbourne.  I  brought  then 
rith  me." 

uYou  are  sharper  than  I  thought.  What  made 
fou  think  of  this  ?  " 

"I  thought  their  testimony  might  be  needed, 
Besides,  I  was  liable  to  be  attacked,  and  perhaps  mur 
dered  on  the  way,  if  it  were  discovered  that  I  had  the 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  335 

nugget ;  so  I  ottered  them  a  thousand  dollars  between 
them,  if  they  would  come  up  with  me." 

"It  is  a  considerable  sum,  but  I  think  you  were 
wise  to  pay  it.  I  know  these  bankers  with  whom 
your  friend's  money  is  deposited.  If  you  desire  it,  I 
will  take  the  matter  in  hand,  and  present  your  claim 
at  once." 

"  That  is  what  I  wanted  to  ask,  Mr.  Lindsay.  If 
you  will  be  so  kind,  I  shall  be  yery  much  obliged  to 
you." 

"  Then  we  had  better  lose  no  time.  I  haye  an 
hour  to  spare.  Suppose  you  come  with  me  now." 

"  But,"  said  Maud,  "  I  want  Harry  to  stay  with 
me." 

"  Business  first,  pleasure  afterwards,  Maud,"  said 
her  father ;  "  and  this  business  of  Harry's  is  of  much 
importance." 

"  Well,  Harry,  come  back  as  soon  as  you  can,* 
•aid  Maud. 

To  this  Harry  readily  agreed,  and  went  out  with 
Mr.  Lindsay. 

Messrs.  Bird  &  Bolton  were  in  their  banking* 
office. 


536  SINK  OR  SWIM;  oiz, 

"  Good-morning,  Mr.  Lindsay,"  said  Mr.  Bird,  as 
that  gentleman  entered.  "  Is  there  anything  I  can 
do  for  you  this  morning  ?  " 

"  Not  for  me,  but  for  this  young  man,"  said  Mr. 
Lindsay,  presenting  Harry. 

Mr.  Bird  looked  at  Harry  in  some  surprise,  for  he 
was  still  clad  in  his  rough  miner's  costume. 

"  You  have  fourteen  hundred  pounds  left  on 
deposit  by  John  Bush,  a  miner,  if  I  am  rightly  in 
formed." 

"  Your  information  is  correct,  Mr.  Lindsay." 

"  John  Bush  is  dead.  This  young  man,  whom  I 
previously  knew,  was  his  partner,  and  to  him  Bush 
bequeathed  all  of  which  he  died  possessed." 

"I  suppose  your  young  friend  has  proof  to  sub 
stantiate  his  claim,"  said  Mr.  Bird,  cautiously. 

"  He  has." 

Here  Mr.  Lindsay  produced  the  paper  already 
referred  to. 

"  This  seems  correct,  but  the  witnesses  ought  to 
be  produced.  They  might  be  men  of  straw,  you 
know." 

"  Of  course.     In  such  a  matter,  you  are  right  to  be 


BARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  387 

cautious.  The  witnesses  are  all  in  Melbourne,  and 
shall  be  produced,"  said  Mr.  Lindsay. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  all  will  be  satisfactory ;  but  of 
course,  as  a  man  of  business,  Mr.  Lindsay,  you  wil) 
not  be  surprised  that  we  require  absolute  proof." 

"  You  are  perfectly  right  in  doing  so.  I  should  do 
the  same  in  your  place.  We  propose  to  bring  the 
witnesses  here,  that  you  may  satisfy  yourself  that  all 
is  genuine,  and  as  it  should  be.  If  you  will  appoint 
an  hour  that  will  suit  your  convenience  they  shall  be 
on  hand." 

"  To-morrow  at  eleven,  then." 

"  Very  well." 

After  a  little  more  conversation  Mr.  Lindsay  and 
Harry  withdrew. 

"  There  is  one  thing  more  that  I  would  like  your 
advice  about,"  said  Harry. 

"  What  is  that  ?    Of  course  you  shall  have  it." 

"  I  want  to  sell  my  nugget  at  the  best  advantage." 

"Where  is  it?" 

"  I  will  bring  it  to  the  hotel  at  any  time.  It  is  in 
charge  of  the  three  miners." 

44  You  are  rather  careless  to  trust  them." 
22 


333  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR* 

"  I  don't  know  but  I  am,"  said  Harry  ;  "  but  I 
didn't  know  what  else  to  do." 

"  I  will  go  around  with  you  to  the  place  where 
they  are  stopping,  and  then  will  call  with  you  upon 
a  man  who  deals  in  gold.  The  matter  may  as  weU 
be  settled  at  once." 

The  three  miners  had  put  up  at  an  inferior  inn  in 
a  narrow  street  running  out  of  the  principal  avenue 
in  Melbourne.  Luckily  they  were  at  home  when 
Harry  called  with  Mr.  Lindsay. 

The  latter  found  a  certain  reluctance  on  their  part 
to  give  up  the  nugget. 

"  You  see,"  said  one,  "  this  young  chap  has  prom 
ised  u»  two  hundred  pounds  between  us.  Maybe  he 
will  forget  all  about  that,  and  leave  us  to  shift  for 
ourselves." 

"Do  you  think  I  would  be  so  mean?"  exclaimed 
Harry. 

"The  man  is  right,"  said  Mr.  Lindsay.  "H« 
wants  to  have  everything  made  sure." 

"  But  I  can't  pay  them  till  the  gold  is  sold." 

"  That's  true ;  nor  would  it  be  advisable,  for  you 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  839 

want  their  testimony  before  the  bankers.  But  I  think 
I  see  a  way  to  arrange  matters." 

"  How  is  that  ?  "    asked  Harry. 

44 1  will  advance  one  half  the  sum  you  promised  at 
once,  and  guarantee  the  payment  of  the  balance 
to-morrow  afternoon,  after  they  have  rendered  in  their 
testimony  at  the  banking-house." 

This  suggestion  was  accepted  by  all  parties  as  the 
best  practical  solution  of  the  difficulty  arising  from 
the  conflicting  interests  of  the  two  parties,  namely) 
the  three  miners  on  the  one  hand,  and  Harry  on  the 
other.  It  must  not  be  supposed  that  they  had  seen 
anything  in  him  to  inspire  distrust ;  but  it  is  a  good 
rule  to  keep  friendship  and  business  apart,  and 
appearances  are  sometimes  deceptive. 

It  will  not  be  necessary  to  follow  out  the  business 
in  all  its  details.  There  were  some  unexpected 
delays;  but  at  the  end  of  a  fortnight  the  whole 
matter  was  settled,  and  Harry  found  himself,  not 
indeed  rich,  but  richer  than  he  ever  anticipated. 

The  gold  nugget  was  found  to  be  worth  five  thou 
sand  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  The  money  in 
the  banker's  hands,  with  accruing  interest,  amounted 


SI&K  OR  SWIM;  oiz, 

to  seven  thousand  and  seventy-five.  The  account 
was  rendered  in  English  currency,  but  for  con 
venience'  sake  I  have  reduced  it  to  Federal  money. 
This,  then,  was  the  final  statement  of  Harry's  inheri 
tance: — 

On  deposit  with  Bird  <fc  Bolton,      $7,075.00 
Sum  realized  from  gold  nugget,        5,450.00 


Total,  .  .  .    $12,525.00 

Prom  this  amount  must  be  deducted  the  thousand 
dollars  which  Harry  agreed  to  pay  to  the  three 
miners.  When  this  was  done,  he  was  left  with 
eleven  thousand  five  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars, 
which,  for  a  boy  of  his  age,  was  certainly  a  very 
comfortable  capital. 

When  this  matter  was  settled,  Harry  began  to 
bethink  himself  of  home,  and  told  Mr.  Lindsay  that 
he  felt  it  his  duty  to  go  back  to  America  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  gladden  his  mother's  heart  with  the 
news  of  his  good  fortune. 

"You   are   right,    Harry,"    said    Mr.    Lindsay, 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLV*.  841 

promptly.     "  Your  first  duty  is  to  your  mother.    I 
will  not  say  a  word  to  dissuade  you  from  it." 

But  if  Mr.  Lindsay  forbore  to  dissuade  Harry, 
Maud  was  not  so  forbearing.  She  was  exceedingly 
dissatisfied  at  the  idea  of  losing  the  society  of  our 
hero. 

"Why  can't  we  all  sail  in  the  same  steamer, 
papa  ?  "  she  said. 

"  Because,  Maud,  I  am  not  ready  to  go  back  yet. 
My  business  is  not  finished." 

"  Then  I  shall  never  see  Harry  again." 

"  I  think  you  will.  I  have  invited  Harry  to  visit 
ns  in  England  next  summer,  and  I  think  he  will 
accept  the  invitation." 

"  Will  you,  Harry?"  asked  Maud,  eagerly. 

"I  will  if  I  can,  Maud,"  said  Harry;  "and  I  think 
lean." 

u  I  am  afraid  you  will  forget  me,  Harry." 

"  I  certainly  shall  not,  Maud.  You  have  been  too 
kind  for  that.  As  soon  as  I  get  back  to  America  I 
shall  write  to  you,  and  let  you  know  how  I  arrived." 

Maud  was  forced  to  be  satisfied  with  this  promise. 
Harry  made  all  needed  preparations  for  his  re- 


84S  SINK  OR  smai;  OR, 

turn,  and  ft  week  from  the  time  when  his  affairs 
were  settled,  he  took  cabin  passage  on  a  stea'jaer 
bound  from  Melbourne  to  New  YorH:.  We  must 
precede  him,  and  inquire  how  matters  have  beta* 
going  on  in  Yernon  during  his  absence. 


RAYMOND'S   RESOLVE. 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

0QUIRE    TURNER    SPINS    HIS    WEB. 

HARRY'S  disappearance  inflicted  a  blow  upon  Mrs, 
Raymond  from  which  she  did  not  easily  recover. 
Coming  so  soon  after  her  husband's  sudden  death,  she 
felt  that  her  life  had  indeed  become  desolate,  and 
but  that  she  knew  her  life  was  necessary  to  little 
Katy,  she  would  not  have  cared  to  live.  But  for 
Katy's  sake  she  tried  to  bear  up  as  well  as  she  could 
against  her  double  loss. 

Besides,  so  far  as  Harry  was  concerned,  she  was 
not  without  hope  that  he  might  some  day  return.  He 
might  be  dead  ;  but  of  this  there  was  no  proof.  Mrs. 
Raymond  clung  to  the  hope  that,  whatever  might  be 
the  cause  of  his  absence,  it  was  not  occasioned  by 
death.  But,  in  spite  of  this  hope,  it  was  hard  to  have 
day  after  day  pass  without  any  intelligence.  The 
home  seemed  very  lonely  and  sad  now.  Evea  little 


344  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR. 

Katy,  naturally   a   lively   child,  was    subdued    and 
more  sober  than  she  used  to  be. 

But  Mrs.  Raymond  had  another  cause  for  anxiety, 
and  that  a  serious  one.  During  her  husband's  life  she 
had  always  lived  in  comfort,  and  never  felt  any  anxi 
ety  about  the  future.  But  now  whatever  money  was 
to  be  earned  for  the  support  of  the  little  household 
must  be  earned  by  herself,  for  of  course  Katy  was  too 
young  to  earn  anything,  and  must  for  some  years  be 
kept  at  school.  How  to  earn  money  enough  to  meet 
their  expenses  was  a  difficult  problem.  She  could 
think  of  no  other  way  except  sewing,  and  that,  even 
under  the  best  circumstances,  as  my  readers  very  well 
know,  is  very  poorly  paid. 

Squire  Turner  occasionally  called  on  Mrs.  Ray 
mond,  feeling  that  it  was  for  his  interest  to  assume 
the  role  of  a  disinterested  friend.  One  evening,  about 
six  weeks  after  Harry's  disappearance,  he  took  his 
cane  and  walked  over  to  the  little  cottage.  The 
widow  had  come  to  look  forward  with  interest  to  his 
visits,  feeling  in  her  position  the  need  of  a  friend. 
She  welcomed  him,  accordingly,  with  an  evident 
pleasure,  which  he  did  not  fail  to  notice. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  345 

u  I  hope  you  are  well,  Mrs.  Raymond,"  he  said, 
removing  his  hat,  and  taking  the  chair  which  the 
widow  brought  forward. 

"I  am  well  in  health,  Squire  Turner,"  was  the 
reply,  "  but.  I  am  very  unhappy.  1  sometimes  feel  as 
if  my  sorrows  are  greater  than  1  can  bear." 

u  You  have  Katy  left." 

"  Yes,  Katy  is  a  dear  little  girl.  But  for  her  I 
should  not  care  to  live.  But  for  her  and  the  hope 
that  Harry  may  come  back  some  time  —  " 

"  While  there  is  life  there  is  hope,"  said  the  squire. 
"  I  mean  while  we  are  not  certain  of  death,  there  is 
ground  for  hope." 

"  Don't  you  really  think  he  will  come  back  some 
time,  Squire  Turner  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  there  is  a  chance  of  it,"  said  the  squire, 
cautiously  ;  u  but  it  is  not  well  to  be  too  sanguine,  for 
you  know  we  cannot  be  sure  of  anything." 

"  If  there  was  anything  I  could  do,"  replied  the 
widow ;  "  but  I  can  only  wait,  and  the  suspense  is 
very  wearing." 

"  Of  course,  I  quite  feel  for  you.  Depend  upon  it, 
I  shall  do  what  I  can  to  relieve  your  anxiety  when- 


546  SINK  on  SWIM;  0/2, 

ever  I  see  clearly  what  to  do.  You  give  me  credit  foi 
that?" 

"  Yes,  Squire  Turner,  I  know  you  are  a  true  friend. 
The  time  was  when  I  did  you  injustice ;  but  I  see 
more  clearly  now." 

If  Squire  Turner  had  had  any  sense  of  shame  he 
would  have  blushed  at  this  testimony  from  the  woman 
whom  he  had  done  so  much  to  injure  ;  but  his  feel 
ings  were  not  very  keen,  and  he  only  listened  with 
complacency,  perceiving  that  he  had  made  good  prog 
ress  in  securing  the  widow's  confidence.  All  his  plans 
seemed  to  be  working  well  thus  far.  He  was  now 
ready  to  take  the  next  step,  and  this  was  to  get  Mrs. 
Raymond  into  his  power  by  placing  her  under  pecu 
niary  obligations. 

"  I  hope  you  will  excuse  me  one  question  which  I 
am  about  to  ask,"  he  said,  "  and  believe  that  it  is 
dictated,  not  by  idle  curiosity,  but  my  interest  in  your 
welfare.  Do  you  not  feel  considerable  difficulty  in 
earning  enough  money  to  defray  your  expenses  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Raymond,  "•  that  is  one  of  my 
troubles.  Katy  and  I  have  few  wants  ;  but  I  find  it 
costs  a  good  deal  for  food,  and  fuel,  and  clothes." 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  347 

•*  Of  course." 

•'  Especially  as  I  have  no  way  of  earning  except  by 
the  needle.  Sewing  is  very  poorly  paid." 

u  That  is  quite  true.  By  the  way,  Mrs.  Raymond, 
I  shall  be  glad  to  give  you  all  the  work  I  have  in  that 
line,  and  to  pay  you  a  fair  price  for  doing  it." 

u  Thank  you,  Squire  Turner.  It  will  be  a  favor  to 
me." 

"  And  if  you  find  you  can't  meet  your  expenses, 
don't  hesitate  at  any  time  to  apply  to  me  for  a  loan." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  Squire  Turner,  but  I  don't 
like  to  borrow  money." 

"  I  can  understand  your  feelings  about  it ;  but  you 
need  not  feel  any  delicacy.'' 

44 1  am  afraid  I  should  never  be  able  to  repay  the 
money." 

"As  to  that,  I  can  show  you  a  way  that  will 
relieve  your  feeling." 

"  What's  that?" 

"You  are  aware  that  this  house  belongs  to  you, 
with  the  exception  of  a  mortgage  of  fbur  hundred 
dollars,  which  I  hold.  Now  it  is  probably  worth  over 
a  thousand  dollars,"  he  answered,  courteously. 


848  SINK  OR  sjrar;  CAK, 

44  Mr.  Raymond  considered  it  worth,  with  the  land, 
twelve  hundred  dollars." 

"  Ahem  1 "  said  the  squire,  who  had  his  reasons  for 
underrating  the  property  ;  u  it  was  probably  worth  that 
to  him,  but  I  don't  think  it  would  fetch  much  over  a 
thousand,  if  it  were  brought  to  a  sale.  However,  that 
is  not  to  the  purpose.  I  only  mentioned  it  to  sug 
gest  that  the  property  might  serve  as  ample  security 
for  any  sum  you  might  wish  to  borrow,  so  that  you 
need  not  feel  delicate  about  any  loans  you  might  be 
forced  to  ask." 

44  That  is  true,"  said  Mrs.  Raymond.  "  I  did  not 
think  of  that." 

44  Have  you  a  supply  of  money  on  hand  at  prefr 
ent  ?  "  asked  the  squire. 

Mrs.  Raymond  was  forced  to  acknowledge  that  she 
had  less  than  a  dollar  in  the  house. 

"  I  thought  it  might  be  so,"  he  said,  44  and  there 
fore  I  came  provided.  You  had  better  let  me  lend 
you  fifty  dollars." 

After  some  hesitation  Mrs.  Raymond  consented  to 
take  the  money. 

44  Tf  you  will  let  me  have  a  sheet  of  paper  I  will 


RAYMOND'S  RESOLVK.  349 

•draw  up  a  note,  which  you  can  sign,"  said  the  squire, 
smoothly.  "  I  know  that  it  will  be  more  agreeable  to 
your  feelings  to  regard  the  loan  as  a  business  trans 
action  rather  than  as  a  favor." 

How  could  Mrs.  Raymond  feel  otherwise  than 
grateful  to  the  man  who  entered  so  delicately  into  her 
feelings?  She  unhesitatingly  acquiesced  in  what 
he  proposed,  and  brought  forward  writing  materials, 
with  which  Squire  Turner  drew  up  a  note  of  hand, 
which  Mrs.  Raymond  signed.  He  then  drew  from  his 
pocket-book  ten  five-dollar  bills,  which  he  handed  to 
the  widow,  depositing  the  note  in  his  wallet. 

u  There,"  said  he,  pleasantly,  "  our  business  is  at 
an  end,  and  now  we  can  talk  as  Mends.  I  believe 
James  is  wanting  some  shirts.  Shall  you  have  leisure 
to  make  them?" 

"  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  do  so." 

"  Then  may  I  trouble  you  to  buy  the  necessary 
materials  ?  —  you  will  be  a  better  judge  than  I  on  that 
point.  He  will  bring  over  one  of  his  shirts  as  a  pat 
tern,  and  you  may  make  them  up  at  your  leisure,  and 
send  in  a  bill  for  work  and  materials  together." 

Of  course   Mrs.    Raymond  was   only   too  glad   to 


350  SINK  OR  SWIM;  on, 

accept  this  commission,  and  readily  agreed  to  do  as 
requested. 

Squire  Turner  continued,  as  he  had  begun,  to  act  as 
a  sympathizing  friend  cf  Mrs.  Raymond.  From  time 
to  time  he  supplied  he/  with  money  as  she  required 
it,  in  each  case,  however,  taking  her  note  for  the 
amount,  and,  when  the  sum  was  sufficient  to  warrant 
it,  securing  it  by  an  additional  mortgage  upon  the 
property.  When  he  proposed  this,  it  was  ostensibly 
to  spare  the  feelings  of  the  widow,  and  prevent  her 
from  feeling  any  delicacy  or  sense  of  pecuniary  obli 
gations. 

"  You  see,  Mrs.  Raymond,"  he  said,  smoothly 
"  you  have  no  cause  to  feel  grateful  to  me.  Ever} 
pecuniary  transaction  between  us  is  upon  a  stric' 
business  basis.  I  know  you  would  prefer  that  it 
should  be  so." 

"  I  know  that  you  are  very  kind,  Squire  Turner 
and  I  can't  help  feeling  grateful,  though  you  tell  me 
there  is  no  occasion  for  my  being  so." 

This  is  what  Mrs.  Raymond  said,  and  she  felt  thai 
Squire  Turner  was  indeed  a  very  disinterested  friend, 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  851 

though  it  would  be  hard  to  show  in  what  respect  he 
had  been  so. 

Meanwhile,  Squire  Turner  had  kept  in  constant 
correspondence  with  Mr.  Robinson,  the  Milwaukie 
lawyer,  teaching  the  land  grant  already  referred  to, 
and  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  obtain  Mrs.  Ray 
mond's  authority  to  act  for  her  in  the  matter.  It 
was  important  for  him  to  do  this,  without  leading  her 
to  suspect  that  it  was  a  matter  of  much  moment. 
One  evening  he  introduced  the  subject  as  if  casu 
ally  :  — 

"  By  the  way,  Mrs.  Raymond,  your  son  Harry 
placed  in  my  hands  some  time  since  a  land  warrant 
belonging  to  your  late  father,  with  the  request  that  I 
would  ascertain  whether  it  was  worth  anything." 

u  I  remember  it  now  that  you  mention  it,  Squire 
Turner,"  said  the  widow.  "  I  suppose  it  is  worth 
less." 

"  No,"  said  the  squire,  candidly.  "  I  think  you 
may  get  a  little  something  for  it.  I  suppose  fifty  or 
a  hundred  dollars  would  be  acceptable." 

"  It  would  be  more  than  I  ever  expected  to  realize 


352  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OA, 

from  it.  Do  you  really  think  it  is  likely  to  amount 
to  as  much  as  that  ?  " 

"  I  really  do,  —  that  is,  I  hope  so.  If  you  are  con 
tent  to  give  me  authority  to  act  for  you,  I  will  do  the 
best  I  can,  and,  of  course,  I  shall  charge  you  nothing 
for  my  services." 

"  How  kind  you  are,  Squire  Turner !  I  will  sign 
anything  you  think  best." 

"  I  have  brought  a  paper  properly  drawn  up,  em 
powering  me  to  act  for  you,"  said  the  squire.  "  1 
will  see  that  you  have  no  trouble  in  the  matter." 

Here  he  produced  the  paper,  and  Mrs.  Raymond 
unhesitatingly  affixed  her  signature. 

"  I  am  sure,"  she  said,  "  I  never  expected,  after  so 
many  years,  that  the  warrant  would  ever  amount  to 
anything." 

"It  may  not,  but  I  think  it  will.  I  will  do  my 
best  for  you.  In  fact,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  go  West 
next  week  on  some  other  business,  and  will  take 
MilwauMe  on  my  way.  I  never  was  there,  and,  apart 
from  your  business,  I  shall  enjoy  seeing  the  city." 

Was  it  surprising  that  Mrs.  Raymond  considered 
Squire  Turner  a  very  disinterested  friend  ?  She  felt 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  353 


sure  that  he  was  putting  himself  to  considerable 
ble  and  some  expense  to  promote  her  interests.  A.S 
to  that,  it  was  certainly  true  that  Squire  Turner's 
sole  motive,  in  making  the  western  journey  on  which 
he  had  determined,  was  connecter  with  Mrs.  Ray 
mond's  land  warrant. 

What  success  he  met  with  will  be  told  in  the  fol 
lowing  chapter. 

a 


SINK  os  swat;  ait. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

AH   UNEXPECTED    PROPOSAL. 

next  week  Squire  Turner  started  for  Milwaa 
kie.  He  did  not  mention  this  as  his  destination  in 
the  village,  but  stated  that  he  had  business  in  Chicago 
and  beyond,  not  caring  to  excite  any  suspicions  in 
Vernon,  which  was  just  large  enough  for  everybody 
to  feel  interested  in  everybody  else's  affairs.  But  in 
reality  he  stopped  in  Chicago  only  long  enough  to 
take  dinner,  and  then  hurried  on  to  Milwaukie,  where 
he  proceeded  at  once  to  the  office  of  Mr.  Robinson. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Squire  Turner,"  said  the 
lawyer,  rising  from  the  table  at  which  he  was  seated ; 
u  the  fact  is,  I  was  just  thinking  over  your  business. " 

"Well,  what  ia  the  prospect?"  asked  Squire 
Turner. 

"  Excellent.  The  parties  at  first  were  disposed  to 
bluff  me  off,  and  pooh-pooh  our  claims  ;  but  they  have 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  855 

probably  taken  legal  advice,  and  have  changed  their 
tune  in  consequence." 

"  Do  they  propose  anything?  T 

"  Yes  ;  they  offer  five  thousand  dollars  for  the  sur 
render  of  the  land  warrant,  which  will  insure  them  a 
perfect  title." 

44  Five  thousand  dollars  I  "  repeated  Squire  Turner, 
slowly.  "  Of  course,  that  is  a  good  sum  compared 
with  the  original  value  of  the  warrant ;  but  — " 

"  Small  when  the  present  value  of  the  land  is  con 
sidered.  Precisely  so." 

"  What,  then,  would  you  advise?" 

"  I  would  advise  you  to  hold  off  for  more.  You 
are  not  in  a  hurry,  I  suppose  ?  " 

"  Not  if  you  think  it  will  pay  to  wait." 

"  I  do  think  so.  If  you  are  firm,  it  will  argue  a 
consciousness  of  strength,  which  will  produce  an  im 
pression  on  their  minds." 

"  How  much  do  you  think  I  ought  to  get  ?  " 

"  Not  less  than  ten  thousand  dollars." 

"  Is  there  a  chance  of  their  coming  up  to  that 
figure?" 

"Yes." 


356  SINK  on  SWIM;  OR, 

u  I  should  prefer  friendly  compromise  to  initiating 
legal  proceedings,  even  if  I  get  less/' 

Squire  Turner  had  two  reasons  for  this  preference. 
First,  he  knew  well  enough  the  delays  of  the  law,  and 
that  years  might  pass  before  the  matter  could  be 
settled,  if  once  the  law  should  be  appealed  to.  But, 
more  than  this,  such  a  course  would  produce  more  or 
less  publicity,  and  Mrs.  Raymond  might  hear  of  it, 
which  was  very  far  from  his  wishes.  But  a  compro 
mise  could  be  effected  without  any  public  mention  of 
the  affair,  and  this  would  be  safer  and  more  speedy. 

"  By  the  way,  Turner,  are  you  personally  inter 
ested  in  this  matter?"  asked  the  lawyer. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  squire.  u  The  claimant  is  a  friend 
of  mine,  and  I  have  advanced  money  on  it,  consider 
ing  it  a  fair  security.  If  she  loses,  I  also  become  a 
loser." 

This  was  not  true,  except  indirectly,  for,  as  the 
reader  knows,  Squire  Turner  could  only  lose  by  being 
obliged  to  forego  his  purpose  of  marriage. 

44  You  have  —  excuse  my  inquiring  —  authority  to 
act  in  the  matter?" 

"  Yes ;  I  will  exhibit  it." 


BARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  357 

The  squire  drew  out  the  document  to  which  he  had 
obtained  Mrs.  Raymond's  signature,  as  described  in 
the  preceding  chapter.  Mr.  Robinson  glanced  at  it. 

"  Quite  correct,"  he  said.  "  Well,  then,  what  shall 
we  decide  ?  " 

*'  Stand  out  for  ten  thousand  dollars/*  said  the 
squire.  "I  don't  mind  a  few  months'  delay.  In 
fact,  for  some  reasons,  the  delay  will  be  satisfactory 
to  me." 

"  If  such  are  your  views,  we  shall  probably  gain 
our  point,"  said  Mr.  Robinson.  "  It  will  take  some 
time  to  bring  up  the  parties  to  the  point,  but  in  six 
months  I  think  it  can  be  effected,  if  we  stand  firm. 
Will  six  months  be  too  long?" 

"  Not  at  all.    We  will  stand  firm." 

The  conversation  now  touched  upon  matters  of 
detail,  on  which  we  need  not  enter.  It  is  enough  to 
say  that  Mr.  Robinson  and  his  client  agreed  upon  the 
policy  advisable  to  be  pursued,  and  the  former  agreed 
to  keep  the  latter  constantly  apprised  of  the  progress 
of  the  negotiation. 

I  must  stop  here  to  explain  why  it  was  that  Squire 
Turner  was  in  no  hurry  to  bring  the  matter  to  a  con- 


858  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR, 

elusion.  Nine  months  only  had  passed  since  Mr. 
Raymond's  death,  and  an  offer  of  marriage  on  hia 
part  to  Mrs.  Raymond  would,  he  felt,  be  considered 
premature,  and  be  very  probably  declined.  Now,  if 
the  matter  were  settled  at  once  in  favor  of  Mrs.  Ray 
mond,  she  was  liable  at  any  time  to  be  made  aware 
of  it  in  some  unforeseen  way,  and,  if  thus  made 
pecuniarily  independent,  the  squire  felt  that  she 
would  prefer  not  to  contract  a  second  marriage.  He 
counted  upon  obtaining  her  consent  for  the  sake  of 
her  child,  whom  he  could  support  in  comfort  and 
afford  more  advantages,  which  otherwise  the  mother 
would  be  quite  unable  to  provide.  It  therefore  suited 
his  purpose*  better  that  the  matter  should  be  pro 
tracted  for,  say  six  months,  when  a  sufficient  time 
would  have  elapsed,  since  Mr.  Raymond's  death,  to 
make  his  proposal  proper. 

Squire  Turner  returned  from  his  western  trip,  and, 
of  course,  took  an  early  opportunity  to  call  on  Mrs. 
Raymond. 

"Did  you  have  a  pleasant  Journey?"  asked  the 
widow. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  859 

"  Very.  By  the  way,  I  stopped  at  Milwaukie  on 
my  return." 

"  Did  you  hear  anything  of  the  warrant?  " 

u  Yes  ;  I  find  there  is  a  chance  of  realizing  seven 
ty-five  or  a  hundred  dollars  from  it.  It  is  not  much, 
to  be  sure  —  " 

"  It  will  be  a  good  deal  to  me.  You  are  certainly 
very  kind,  Squire  Turner.  You  must  deduct  any 
expenses  which  you  have  incurred  about  it." 

"  I  couldn't  think  of  it,  Mrs.  Raymond,"  said  the 
squire,  in  a  cordial  manner.  "  It  is  a  pleasmre  to  me 
to  serve  my  friends." 

"  How  much  I  have  misjudged  Squire  Turner  in 
times  past!"  thought  Mrs.  Raymond,  and  she 
thanked  him  again. 

Two  months  later  Squire  Turner  received  a  letter 
from  the  Milwaukie  lawyer,  in  which  he  stated  that 
the  parties  had  increased  their  offer  to  seven  thou 
sand  dollars. 

"  Shall  I  accept  it  for  you?  "  he  asked. 

Squire  Turner  replied  that  the  offer  was  not  sati»- 
factory,  and  that  the  negotiation  must  proceed.  He 
was  in  no  particular  hurry,  he  said. 


360  SUTK  OR  SWIM;  o«, 

A  month  later  the  offer  was  increased  to  eight 
thousand  dollars. 

"  Tell  them,"  he  wrote,  "  that  we  will  take  a  month 
to  consider  their  offer.  I  am  not  in  haste,  as  I  before 
wrote,  and  am  resolved  not  to  accept  any  sum  short 
of  ten  thousand  dollars.  Still  it  won't  do  any  harm 
to  appear  to  consider  their  offer." 

So  negotiations  continued  until  the  six  months  had 
nearly  passed.  It  seemed  pretty  clear  now  that 
Squire  Turner's  ultimatum  would  shortly  be  ac 
cepted,  nine  thousand  dollars  having  been  already 
offered.  Mr.  Robinson  advised  his  client  to  come 
out  to  Milwaukie,  feeling  confident  that,  if  he  were 
personally  present,  the  matter  could  be  satisfactorily 
arranged  on  his  own  terms.  To  this  the  squire  was 
not  averse ;  but  first  he  wished  to  see  what  were  his 
chances  of  success  with  the  widow. 

Accordingly,  he  dressed  himself  with  more  than 
usual  care,  one  evening,  and  walked  round  to  the 
house  of  Mrs.  Raymond.  He  had  become  such  a 
frequent  visitor  there,  of  late,  that  his  visits  never 
excited  surprise. 

He  was  received  with  the  usual  welcome.     Mr*. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLYE.  361 

Raymond  ushered  him  into  the  sitting-room,  where 
she  had  been  sitting  with  little  Katy.  Katy  wa# 
reading  a  book  which  she  had  taken  from  the  Sunday 
school  library.  Squire  Turner  looked  at  her  and  hes 
itated,  for  he  did  not  care  to  have  the  little  girl  present 
when  he  made  his  proposal. 

"  Have  you  heard  anything  from  MilwauMe,  Squire 
Turner?"  asked  the  widow. 

"  Not  very  recently.  I  don't  doubt,  however,  that 
matters  will  turn  out  favorably.  In  fact,  I  am  so 
confident,  that  I  am  quite  willing  to  advance  you 
fifty  dollars  on  the  warrant." 

"  Thank  you,  Squire  Turner ;  but  just  at  present  I 
have  a  little  money  on  hand.  I  am  glad  you  think  I 
shall  get  it." 

"I  feel  sure  of  it." 

There  was  a  moment's  pause,  and  then  he  pro 
ceeded:  "There  is  a  matter  about  which  I  would 
like  to  speak  to  yon  alone,  Mrs.  Raymond,  if  yon 
would  be  willing  to  send  Katy  out  of  the  room  for  * 
few  minutes." 

"  Certainly.  Katy,  you  may  go  upstairs  for  a  little 
while." 


862  SINX  on  SWIM;  wt, 

Katy  left  the  room,  and  Sqnire  Turner  found  him 
self  alone  with  the  widow.  He  drew  his  chair  a  little 
nearer  and  commenced :  — 

"  I  am  about  to  make  you  a  proposal,  Mrs.  Ray 
mond,  which  I  think  will  be  mutually  advantageous, 
and  I  hope  you  will  regard  it  in  that  light.  I  have 
had  it  in  view  for  some  time,  but  felt  delicate  abont 
introducing  the  subject  before.  I  hope  you  regard 
me  as  a  friend." 

"  Indeed,  you  have  been  a  true  friend  to  me,  Squire 
rurner." 

"  I  have  tried  to  be,"  said  the  squire,  modestly. 
44  But  I  will  not  waste  time,  but  at  once  make  my 
proposal.  You  have  lost  your  husband,  I  my  wife. 
I  need  some  one  to  superintend  my  house,  and  look 
after  my  son,  while  you  need  a  protector  who  is  able 
to  give  you  a  good  home.  Will  you  be  my  wife  ?  " 

"Indeed,  Squire  Turner,"  said  Mrs.  Raymond, 
•tartled,  "I  never  anticipated  that  your  proposal 
would  be  of  such  a  character." 

"And  yet,  why  should  you  be  surprised?  Need 
I  recall  that  time,  years  since,  when  we  were  both 
younger,  and  I  made  the  same  offer  ?  You  see  my 


HAEicY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  868 

attachment  is  no  new  thing.  You  preferred  another, 
b  at  he  has  been  taken  from  you." 

"  I  thank  you  very  much  for  your  kind  offer,"  said 
Mrs.  Raymond,  "  but  I  have  never  thought  of  mar- 
jying  again  since  my  husband's  death.  I  do  not 
think  it  would  be  right." 

44  Such  marriages  take  place  continually." 

UI  know  they  do;  but  all  do  not  feel  as  I 
do." 

"  I  think  your  late  husband  would  favor  it.  Think 
of  your  dependent  condition.  You  have  hard  work 
to  earn  a  poor  living,  and  when  the  four  hundred 
dollars  which  remain  to  you  are  gone,  you  will  indeed 
be  in  a  different  position." 

44  That  is  true." 

44  Consider,  on  the  other  hand,  that  I  could  give 
you  a  good  home  at  once,  and  relieve  you  from  all 
pecuniary  anxiety.  Your  little  Katy  needs  better 
advantages  than  you  can  give  her.  She  seems  to 
have  a  taste  for  music.  I  should  have  her  at  once 
commence  lessons  on  the  piano,  and  would  take  care 
that  she  should  receive  as  good  an  education  as  money 


564  SINK  OR  SWIM;  <XR, 

could  procure.  For  her  sake,  Mrs.  Raymond,  I  hop« 
you  will  reconsider  jour  decision." 

Mrs.  Raymond  had  often  lamented  her  inability  to 
have  Katy  properly  educated,  and  the  squire  could 
have  used  no  argument  more  potent. 

"  If,  I  thought  it  would  be  right,"  said  the  widow, 
hesitatingly. 

u  Think  what  a  difference  it  will  make  in  Katy 
half  a  dozen  years  hence.  Of  course,  if  I  am  per 
sonally  disagreeable  to  you  — 

44  No,  no,  niy  kind  friend ;  do  not  think  that," 
said  Mrs.  Raymond,  hastily.  u  But  I  do  not  know 
wnat  to  say.  The  proposal  is  so  new  and  unexpected 
that  I  cannot  make  up  my  mind  at  once  what  it  is 
right  for  me  to  do." 

"  I  will  not  ask  you  to  decide  at  once.  Take  three 
days  for  it,  and  if  you  have  any  friend  whom  you 
Crust,  ask  that  friend's  advice.  Will  you  do  so?" 

44  Yes,"  said  the  widow,  "  I  will  do  as  you  advise. 
I  will  think  over  your  proposal,  and  I  will  try  to 
decide  in  three  days'  time." 

44  Then  I  will  call  on  Tuesday  to  receive  your 
decision.  Let  me  hope  it  will  be  favorable." 


HARPY  RAYMOSrrfB   RSSOLFE.  335 

Squire  Turner  left  the  cottage  in  a  satisfied  frame 
of  mind.  He  felt  sure  that  for  Katy*s  sak<e  Mm. 
Raymond  would  accept  him. 


866  SINX  ox  SWIM;  on, 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 

IN   WHICH    TWO    STRANGERS    PUT    IN    AN    APPEARAHCB. 

MRS.  RAYMOND  consulted  with  a  friend,  according 
to  Squire  Turner's  suggestion,  and  was  advised  by  all 
means  to  accept. 

44  It  will  be  such  an  advantage  for  Katy,  you 
know,"  her  friend  said. 

44  But  I  don't  feel  as  if  it  would  be  quite  right.  I 
don't  love  Squire  Turner." 

44  You  don't  need  to.  People  don't  often  marry  a 
second  time  for  love.  That  will  do  very  well  for"  a 
young  girl ;  but  there  are  other  things  to  be  thought 
of  now." 

44  Then  you  advise  me  to  marry  again?  " 

44 1  do,  most  certainly." 

44  If  Harry  were  at  home  I  would  not  do  it,"  said 
the  widow.  44 1  don't  think  he  would  like  it.  As  it 
is,  it  is  only  for  Katy*s  sake  that  I  give  my  con 
sent." 


BARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  367 

So  when  Squire  Turner  called  for  his  answer  he 
found  it  to  be  favorable.  He  urged  immediate  mar 
riage.  For  this  he  had  his  reasons,  as  he  desired  to 
be  in  a  situation  to  complete  his  western  negotiation. 

" There  is  no  use  in  delaying,"  he  said.  "The 
sooner  Katy  commences  her  musical  education  the 
better.  Besides,  I  am  lonely,  and  my  household 
sadly  needs  a  woman  to  look  after  it." 

Mrs.  Raymond  would  have  preferred  to  postpone 
the  marriage  for  six  months  ;  but  she  could  assign  no 
reasons  for  it,  and  so  at  length  yielded  to  the  squire's 
request,  and  that  day  four  weeks  was  appointed  for 
the  wedding.  The  next  day  Squire  Turner  went  to 
the  city,  and  selected  a  handsome  silk  dress-pattern, 
which  was  forwarded  by  express  to  Mrs.  Raymond, 
with  an  intimation  that  it  was  for  her  wedding-dress. 
She  could  not  do  otherwise  than  accept  it,  and  the 
village  dress-maker  was  sent  for  at  once  to  superintend 
its  making  np. 

Time  slipped  by,  and  the  day  for  the  marriage  kad 
nearly  arrivec  The  wedding-dress  was  completed, 
and  various  other  Articles,  which  had  also  been  sent 


368  SINK  on  SWIM;  ox, 

through  the  squire's  liberality,  lay  upon  the  bed  In 
Mrs.  Raymond's  chamber. 

"  What  a  beautiful  dress,  mother !  "  said  Katyt 
"  I  wish  you  would  try  it  on." 

More  to  please  the  little  girl  than  herself,  Mrs. 
Raymond  consented  and  tried  on  the  new  dress. 
She  was  still  a  fine-looking  woman,  as  I  have  already 
said,  and  the  new  dress  became  her  well.  Little 
Katy  looked  at  her  in  admiration,  and  said,  ll  How 
beautiful  you  look,  mother!  I  wish  Harry  were 
here  to  see  you." 

At  the  sound  of  Harry's  name  Mrs.  Raymond's 
face  changed.  She  could  not  conceal  from  herself 
that  what  she  was  about  to  do  would  have  been 
strongly  opposed  by  Harry,  had  he  been  at  home. 
Would  he  ever  come  home  ?  That  was  the  question 
which  occurred  to  her,  and,  if  he  did,  what  would  he 
say  to  find  her  Squire  Turner's  wife  ? 

"  I  wish  I  could  put  it  off  for  six  months,"  she 
thought. 

They  were  in  a  room  on  the  second  floor,  and  there 
was  no  one  in  the  lower  part  of  the  house.  Just  then 
the  front  door  was  heard  to  open. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  x&soLrx.  869 

"Go    downstairs,    Katy,"    said    Mrs.    Raymond. 

"  Somebody  has  come  in.  See  who  it  is,  and  come 
and  tell  me." 

Katy  went  down,  and  directly  Mrs.  Raymond 
heard  a  loud  exclamation.  She  could  not  exactly 
make  it  out,  but  it  sounded  like  "  Harry  !  "  A  wild 
nope  sprang  up  in  her  heart.  Without  thinking  of 
her  bridal  dress  she  hurried  downstairs.  She  was 
not  deceived.  There  stood  Harry,  her  Harry,  taller 
and  manlier  than  when  she  saw  him  last,  but  with 
the  same  frank,  handsome  face,  holding  his  little 
sister  in  his  arms. 

"  Harry ! "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Raymond,  in  joyful 
surprise ;  and  in  a  moment  the  long-separated  son 
and  mother  embraced. 

"  God  be  thanked  for  your  return,  my  dear  son !  M 
she  said.  "  Where  have  you  been  all  this  long 
time?" 

"  It  will  take  a  long  time  to  tell,  mother.  I  have 
fast  returned  from  Australia." 

"  From  Australia  I "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Raymond,  in 
Amazement. 

"  Yes,  mother,  it's  a  long  story.     I  will  tell  it  by 


370  SOTJT  OR  SWIM;  0*, 

and  by.  But  how  well  you  are  looking !  And  (for 
the  first  time  noticing  his  mother's  elegant  dress)  how 
handsomely  you  are  dressed  !  Have  you  come  into 
a  fortune  since  I  went  away  ?  " 

"  No,  Harry,"  said  Mrs.  Raymond,  confused. 

"  I  expected  to  find  you  in  poverty,  perhaps  in 
want,"  said  Harry,  puzzled  more  and  more.  "  I 
didn't  think  to  see  you  dressed  like  a  queen." 

"  It's  mother's  wedding-dress,  Harry,"  said  little 
Katy,  who  did  not  share  her  mother's  embarrassment. 

"  Your  wedding-dress,  mother  !  "  exclaimed  Harry, 
his  face  clouding.  "  Who  are  you  going  to  marry? " 

"  I  did  it  for  the  best,  Harry,"  said  his  mother, 
uneasily ;  "  and  he  has  been  very  kind." 

"Who  is  he,  mother?" 

"  Squire  Turner.     He  —  " 

"  Squire  Turner !  "  exclaimed  Harry,  vehemently, 
springing  to  his  feet ;  "it  is  not  possible  you  are 
thinking  of  marrying  him.  He  is  the  worst  enemy 
we  have." 

"  No,  Harry,"  said  his  mother  ;  "  you  are  mistaken 
there.  You  must,  at  least,  do  him  justice.  He  has 
been  very  kind,  very  kind,  indeed.  I  don't  know 


HARRY   RAYMOND'S    RESOLVE.  371 

how  I  should  have  got  along,  in  the  sad  days  after 
we  lost  you,  but  for  his  kindness." 

44  So  you  think  he  has  been  kind,  mother?"  said 
Harry,  with  a  peculiar  expression. 

tk  Very  kind,  as  Katy  can  tell  you,"  said  Mrs.  Ray 
mond.  "  Xot  that  this  is  reason  enough  to  marry 
him.  But  it  is  for  Katy's  sake  I  am  going  to  do  it. 
Squire  Turner  has  promised  to  give  her  every  advan 
tage,  and  she  will  begin  to  take  music-lessons  as 
soon  as  we  are  married.  I  have  had  very  hard  work 
getting  along,  Harry,  and  it  was  a  relief  to  feel  that 
I  need  have  no  more  anxiety  about  making  a  living." 

44  Then  you  don't  love  him,  mother?" 

"I  shall  never  love  any  one  again,  Harry.  My 
love  was  buried  in  your  father's  grave." 

14 1  am  glad  of  that,  at  any  rate ;  glad  that  you 
don't  love  this  scoundrel  —  " 

"  Harry,  Harry,  don't  talk  so,  I  beg  of  you." 

44  Mother,  I  have  good  reason  for  all  I  say.  I 
know  Squire  Turner  better  than  you." 

"  How  can  you  know  him  so  well,  when  you  have 
been  away  for  more  than  a  year  ?  " 

44  Have  you  any  idea  why  I  went  away  so   »nd« 


372  SINK  OR  SWTM;  OR, 

denly  ?  I  don't  mean  to  New  York  ;  but  how  it  hap 
pened  that  I  disappeared  from  New  York  ?  " 

"  No,  Harry,  I  know  nothing  of  it." 

"  Then  I  will  tell  you.  Squire  Turner,  whom  yon 
khink  so  kind,  had  me  kidnapped  on  board  a  vessel 
bound  for  China,  and  I  started  on  my  long  voyage 
without  any  chance  of  letting  you  know  what  had 
become  of  me." 

"  This  is  a  strange  story,  Harry.  Are  you  sure  of 
it?" 

"  Yes.  I  have  proof  of  it.  I  did  not  suspect  at 
first  that  Squire  Turner  had  anything  to  do  with  the 
matter,  till  one  day,  in  the  cabin,  I  picked  up  a  letter 
directed  to  Captain  Brandon  by  Squire  Turner,  which 
made  it  all  clear." 

"  But  what  interest  could  Squire  Turner  have  in 
getting  you  out  of  the  country?"  asked  Mrs.  Ray 
mond. 

"  I  think  I  know  of  a  reason,  mother,"  said  Harry ; 
"  but  I  don't  care  to  mention  it  now," 

"  You  said  the  vessel  was  bound  for  China.  How, 
then,  did  you  get  to  Australia  ?  " 

"  I  was  thrown  into  the  sea,"  said  Harry  ;  4t  and, 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  878 

after  floating  about  for  many  hours,  was  picked  up  at 
length  by  a  vessel  bound  for  Australia." 

"  You  have,  indeed,  encountered  great  perils,  my 
dear  son,"  said  his  mother,  shuddering.  "  Thank 
God,  you  escaped  them  all,  and  are  once  more  re 
stored  to  us." 

Harry  was  about  to  question  his  mother  more  par 
ticularly  respecting  her  trials  during  his  absence, 
when  a  knock  was  heard  at  the  door. 

"  I  will  open  it,  mother,"  said  Harry. 

Opening  the  front  door  he  saw  on  the  step  a  well- 
dressed  gentleman,  whom  he  did  not  recognize. 

"  Does  Mrs.  Raymond  live  here?"  asked  the 
stranger. 

"  Yes,  sir.     Would  you  like  to  see  her  ?  " 

"  I  should  like  to  do  so.  I  am  managing  some 
business  for  her." 

Here  he  offered  his  card,  which  bore  the  name  :  — 
"FRANCIS  ROBINSON, 
"  Attorney  at  Law, 


"  Won't  yon  walk  in,  sir  ?  "  said  Harry,  considera 
bly  surprised. 


374  SINK  on  SWIM;  OR, 

"This  is  my  mother,"  he  said,  introducing  the 
lawyer.  "  Mother,  this  is  Mr.  Robinson,  of  Milwau- 
kie,  who  says  he  is  attending  to  some  business  there 
for  you." 

"  Will  you  be  seated,  sir?"  said  Mrs.  Raymond. 
"  I  had  not  heard  your  name,  but  I  suppose  it's 
about  the  land  warrant." 

"  Yes,  madam.  I  am  glad  to  say  that  we  have 
succeeded.  I  happened  to  be  called  East  on  busi 
ness,  and  thought  I  would  call  in  person,  and  commu 
nicate  the  favorable  termination  of  our  negotiation. 
I  went  first  to  the  house  of  Squire  Turner  ;  but,  learn 
ing  that  he  is  out  of  town  for  a  day  or  two,  inquired 
you  out,  and  have  great  pleasure  in  being  the  first  to 
impart  the  good  news  to  you." 

"  May  I  inquire,"  said  Harry,  "  how  much  my 
•Other  is  likely  to  realize  for  the  land  warrant?" 

"  The  other  party  have  agreed  to  your  terms. 
They  will  compromise  without  an  appeal  to  law, 
ngreeing  to  pay  ten  thousand  dollars." 

"  Ten  thousand  dollars  ! "  repeated  Mrs.  Raymond, 
£B  bewilderment.  "Surely  there  is  some  mistake 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  375 

Squire  Turner  told  me  I  might  realize  from  seventy- 
five  to  a  hundred  dollars  from  it." 

k4  Seventy-five  to  a  hundred  dollars  !  "  he  repeated. 
44  Are  you  sure  you  understood  Squire  Turner 
aright  ?  " 

44  Certainly.  He  told  me  only  a  fortnight  since 
that  he  thought  I  would  obtain  this  sum,  and  I  felt- 
lucky  to  get  anything  at  all." 

u  There  is  a  great  mistake  somewhere,"  said  the 
.awyer,  significantly.  u  Of  one  thing,  however,  I 
can  assure  you,  —  that  the  ten  thousand  dollars  will 
actually  be  paid." 

44  Mother,"  said  Harry,  "have  you  given  Squire 
Turner  authority  to  act  for  you  in  this  matter?" 

44 1  have,  —  that  is,  I  signed  a  paper  which  he  said 
gave  him  such  authority." 

44  He  showed  me  that  paper,"  said  Mr.  Robinson. 

44  Can  my  mother  revoke  that  authority?"  asked 
Harry. 

44  Undoubtedly." 

44  Then  she  does  revoke  it  at  once,  —  am  I  not 
right,  mother?" 

44  If  you  think  best,  Harry." 


37S  SINK    OR    S 


"  1  do  think  best.  It  is  evident  that  Squire  Tur 
ner  has  not  been  faithful  to  your  interests.  If  you 
wish,  I  will  act  as  your  agent." 

"  But  you  are  so  young,  Harry." 

"  I  have  seen  something  of  the  world,  mother, 
since  I  left  home.  I  shall  not  hesitate  to  take  charge 
of  the  business.  Mr.  Robinson  will  assist  me." 

"  Certainly.  I  shall  be  happy  to  do  whatever  J 
can." 

"  Then,  Mr.  Robinson,  if  it  would  not  be  too  much 
trouble,  and  you  can  spare  the  time,  will  you  give  me 
a  history  of  the  case,  and  explain  how  matters  at 
present  stand?" 

u  I  see,"  said  the  lawyer,  smiling,  u  that  you  know 
how  to  come  to  the  point.  I  will  endeavor  to  imitate 
you." 

He  made  a  brief  and  comprehensive  statement, 
which  Harry  readily  understood. 

"Have  you  the  warrant,  Mr.  Robinson?"  asked 
our  hero. 

"  Yes  ;  it  was  committed  to  me  by  Squire  Turner." 

"  That  is  all  right.  I  was  afraid  he  had  it  in  his 
possession,  and  that  might  give  us  trouble." 


O.ARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLD*.  377 

44  No  ;  it  is  out  of  his  power  to  affect  the  arrange 
ments  already  made." 

44  How  long  shall  you  remain  East,  Mr.  Robinson  ?  " 
asked  Harry.  u  I  shall  wish  to  see  you  again." 

"  I  shall  remain  in  New  York  a  week,  my  heacU 
quarters  being  at  the  Astor  House." 

44  I  will  call  upon  you  there.  Meanwhile,  we  leave 
this  matter  entirely  in  your  hands." 

Mr.  Robinson  was  about  to  go,  when  little  Katy, 
who  had  been  looking  out  of  the  window,  suddenly 
exclaimed :  — 

44  Mother,  I  see  Squire  Turner  coming  up  the  road. 
I  think  he  is  coming  here." 

All  present  looked  at  each  other  in  momentary 
doubt  as  to  what  was  best  to  be  done.  Harry  was 
the  first  to  grasp  the  situation. 

44  Mr.  Robinson,"  he  said,  "  will  you  be  kind 
enough  to  accompany  me  to  another  room,  and  wait  ? 
I  would  like  your  presence  by  and  by.  Mother, 
while  you  are  upstairs  and  changing  your  dress, 
Katy  will  admit  Squire  Turner,  and  tell  him  you  will 
be  down  directly.  Mind,  Katy,  not  a  word  about  my 
having  got  home,  or  about  Mr.  Robinson's  being 


378  SINK  OR  SWIM;  ojz, 

here.  When  you  come  down,  mother,  you  must  tell 
Squire  Turner  that  you  have  changed  your  mind 
about  marrying  him,  and,  if  he  makes  any  objection, 
call  me  in." 

"I  see  you  are  a  master  of  strategy,  my  young 
friend,"  said  Mr.  Robinson,  smiling.  "  I  place  my- 
•elf  unhesitatingly  in  your  hands." 

Harry's  programme  was  instantly  carried  out,  and 
one  minute  later  Squire  Turner  knocked  at  the  door 
of  the  cottage. 


BARKY  RAYMONDS   RESOLVB.  37* 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

CONCLUSION. 

"Is  your  mother  at  home,  Katy?"  asked  Squirt 
Turner,  as  the  child  opened  the  outer  door. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Katy.     "  She's  upstairs." 

"  Will  you  tell  her  I  wish  to  see  her  ?  " 

'•*  Yes,  sir." 

Squire  Turner  walked  in,  and  took  a  seat  without 
ceremony,  as  was  natural,  considering  that  it  was  the 
house  of  his  future  wife.  Katy  went  upstairs,  and 
presently  Mrs.  Raymond,  who  had  changed  her  dress, 
came  down. 

"  I  thought  you  were  out  of  town,"  she  said,  trying 
to  speak  in  her  usual  manner,  but  succeeding  with 
difficulty,  for  she  could  not  help  thinking  of  the 
squire's  agency  in  driving  Harry  from  home. 

"  I  returned  sooner  than  I  anticipated.  By  the 
way,  I  think  I  have  found  a  tenant  for  this  cottage." 

"  I  don't  think  that  will  be  necessary,  Squire  TUT- 


380  SUTK  OR  SWIM;  OJR* 

ner.  I  shall  probably  continue  to  occupy  it  my 
self." 

uHow  can  that  be?"  demanded  the  squire,  sur 
prised.  i4  As  my  wife,  you  will,  of  course,  live  in  my 
house." 

"  I  shall  not  become  your  wife.  I  have  changed 
my  mind." 

"  What  does  this  mean?"  he  demanded,  angrily. 
"Why  do  you  trifle  with  me  thus?" 

"  I  am  afraid,  Squire  Turner,  you  have  not  been  so 
much  my  friend  as  I  supposed." 

"  In  what  respect  have  I  failed  to  act  as  your 
friend?" 

u  O  Squire  Turner !  "  exclaimed  the  widow,  impul 
sively,  "  how  could  you  contrive  such  a  wicked  plot 
against  my  poor  boy  ?  How  could  you  send  him  to 
sea,  and  not  tell  me,  when  you  saw  I  was  breaking  my 
heart  at  his  absence  ?  " 

The  squire  flushed  at  this  unexpected  accusation. 
How  in  the  world,  he  thought,  could  Mrs.  Raymond 
have  heard  of  his  agency  in  the  abduction  of  Harry  ? 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  mean,"  he  said ;  but  hi* 
face  belied  his  words. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  381 

k'  It  was  wicked,  '  said  Mrs.  Raymond,  "  to  endan 
ger  his  life  and  rob  me  of  happiness  !  " 

"  Who  mak**8  this  absurd  charge  against  me?" 
demanded  the  squire. 

The  door  opened,  and  Harry  entered. 

"  Squire  Turner,"  he  said,  "  I  don't  suppose  you 
are  very  glad  to  see  me.  Probably  you  did  not 
expect  me  home  so  soon;  perhaps  not  at  all." 

"Where  did  you  come  from?"  stammered  the 
squire. 

"  From  Australia/' 

"  From  Australia  —  I  thought  —  " 

"  Yes,  you  thought  I  was  bound  to  China,"  said 
Harry,  coolly.  "  But  I  left  the  Sea  Eagle,  not  liking 
Captain  Hartley  Brandon  very  much,  and  went  to 
Australia  instead." 

This  was  a  surprise  to  the  squire,  who  answered, 
doggedly,  however,  "  You  seem  to  be  laboring  under 
a  strange  mistake,  Harry.  What  possible  motive 
could  I  have  for  sending  you  away?" 

44 1  can  think  of  one,"  said  Harry,  significantly ; 
44  but  perhaps  you  would  not  like  to  have  me  mention 
ft." 


382  SINK  OR  SWIM;  OR. 

Again  the  squire's  face  flushed,  for  he  compre 
hended  the  allusion  very  well.  He  turned  to  Mrs. 
Raymond. 

"  Am  I  to  understand,  Mrs.  Raymond,"  he  said, 
•that  you  break  your  engagement  to  me?" 

"  I  should  hardly  expect  to  marry  you  now,  after 
all  that  has  happened." 

"  Then,"  said  the  squire,  angrily,  u  I  may  as  well 
go ;  but,  before  going,"  he  added,  with  a  sneer,  "  I 
congratulate  you  on  securing  a  new  dress  at  my 
expense." 

"  How  is  this,  mother?"  asked  Harry. 

"  Squire  Turner  gave  me  my  wedding  outfit,"  said 
the  widow,  embarrassed. 

44  Don't  let  that  trouble  you,  mother,"  said  Harry. 
"  Squire  Turner,  if  you  will  let  me  know  the  expense 
which  you  have  incurred,  I  shall  have  pleasure  in 
paying  the  bill." 

"  I  think  you  will  have  a  little  difficulty  in  paying 
a  hundred  and  twenty  dollars,"  sneered  the  squire. 

In  reply,  Harry  drew  out  his  pocket-book  and  took 
therefrom  a  hundred-dollar  bill  and  a  twenty.  And 
laid  them  on  the  table. 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  383 

u  I  think  you  will  find  that  correct,"  he  said. 

"•Where  did  you  get  all  this  money?"  the  squire 
asked,  in  astonishment. 

44  My  voyage  turned  out  better  than  you  antici 
pated,"  said  Harry.  "  If  you  still  hold  a  mortgage 
on  this  house,  I  will  take  it  up  whenever  you  desire." 

It  is  hard  to  say  whether  Squire  Turner  was  more 
pleased  at  getting  back  his  money,  or  disappointed 
at  the  intelligence  of  Harry's  good  fortune  ;  but,  on 
the  whole,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  the  latter  feeling  pre 
dominated. 

He  took  the  bills,  and  again  took  his  hat  to  go, 
when  he  was  stopped  by  Harry. 

44  If  you  will  stay  five  minutes  longer,"  he  said, 
44 1  should  like  to  ask  you  one  or  two  questions.  My 
mother  tells  me  that  you  have  been  trying  to  obtain 
money  for  the  land  warrant  I  placed  in  your  hands  " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  squire. 

"  May  I  ask  what  success  you  have  met  with?" 

"  Probably  she  will  realize  a  hundred  dollars  from 
it." 

44  On  the  whole,  Squire  Turner,  we  will  not  trouble 


384  SINK  OR  SWIM;  ox, 

you  to  do  anything  more  about  it.  I  think  I  can  do 
better  than  that." 

"  I  have  your  mother's  authority  to  act  as  her 
agent.  You  are  a  boy,  and  not  competent  to  manage 
it." 

"  My  mother  recalls  her  authority." 

"  Is  this  true  ?  "  demanded  the  squire,  hotly. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  widow.  "  Now  that  Harry  is  at 
home,  I  think  he  can  attend  to  it." 

"  Then  you  won't  realize  a  cent,"  snapped  the 
squire.  "  But  you  can't  blame  me.  I  have  been 
doing  my  best  for  you,  and  that  is  all  the  thanks  I 
get.  I  shall  now  charge  you  with  the  expenses  I 
have  incurred  in  the  matter,  though  I  did  not  intend 
to  do  so." 

"  If  the  bill  is  a  fair  one  it  shall  be  paid,"  said 
Harry. 

He  went  to  the  door  and  called  "  Mr.  Robinson  !  " 
That  gentleman  entered.  Squire  Turner  looked  at 
him  as  if  he  could  not  believe  the  testimony  of  his 
eyes. 

"  Mr.  Robinson  ! "  he  ejaculated. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  lawyer  ;  "  I  was  called  East,  unex- 


KARRT  RAYMONDS    RES6^rf. 

pectedly,  and  thought  I  would  make  a  call  on  you  tc 
report  progress.  Not  finding  you  at  home,  I  in 
quired  out  Mrs.  Raymond,  who,  by  the  way,  I  found 
had  au  entirely  erroneous  idea  of  the  value  of  the 
warrant.  You  will  be  glad  to  know  that  I  have  suc 
ceeded  in  obtaining  an  offer  of  ten  thousand  dollars, 
which  will  be  paid  over  within  a  month." 

This  last  blow  was  too  much  for  Squire  Turner. 
Foiled  at  all  points,  he  dashed  his  hat  angrily  upon 
his  head,  and  rushed  from  the  house  in  undignified 
haste.  In  this  connection,  it  may  be  added  that 
Harry,  finding  he  had  collected  the  two  thousand  dol 
lars  from  the  insurance  company,  forced  him  to  return 
it.  Squire  Turner  saved  his  reputation  by  stating 
that  the  man  who  set  the  house  on  fire  had  volun 
tarily  come  forward  and  paid  the  money,  which  ena 
bled  him  to  return  the  sum  collected  of  the  company. 
For  this  act  Squire  Turner  was  made  the  subject  of  & 
complimentary  paragraph  in  the  county  paper ;  but  it 
is  doubtful  if  he  enjoyed  reading  it  much. 

Great  was  Mrs.  Raymond's  joy  over  the  lucky  torn 
in  her  affairs.  Between  nine  and  ten  thousand  dol« 
lars  were  paid  her  as  the  proceeds  of  the  land  Trar 


386  SINK  OR  SWIM;  oie, 

rant,  and  this  made  her  quite  comfortable.  When  it 
was  ascertained  that  Harry  had  brought  a  still  larger 
sum  from  Australia,  he  became  quite  a  great  man  in 
Vernon,  and,  if  he  had  not  been  so  young,  I  verily 
believe  he  would  have  been  elected  to  some  responsi 
ble  town  office. 

But  it  was  not  Harry's  intention  to  live  in  Vernon. 
He  wanted  a  larger  field  for  his  efforts.  The  next 
summer  he  made  a  visit  to  England,  and  was  cor 
dially  received  by  Mr.  Lindsay,  who  wished  him  to 
remain ;  but  Harry  was  unwilling  to  be  separated 
from  his  mother.  Mr.  Lindsay  then  proposed  to 
Harry  on  his  return  to  enter  a  counting-room  in  New 
York,  to  learn  business,  with  a  view  of  establishing  a 
branch  of  his  own  house  in  that  city,  at  a  later  day,  to 
be  under  Harry's  charge.  This  proposal  was  ac 
cepted  by  our  hero,  who  felt  that  it  would  be  advan 
tageous  to  him.  He  removed  his  mother  and  sister 
to  New  York,  as  they  were  unwilling  t*>  be  separated 
from  him 

It  is  enough  to  say  that  in  business  Harry  exhib 
ited  the  same  qualities  which  we  have  already  seen 
in  him,  and  that  his  mastery  of  the  details  was  sur- 


HARRY  RAYMOND'S  RESOLVE.  387 

prisingly  rapid.  As  I  write,  Harry,  who  is  now 
twenty-one,  is  about  to  undertake  the  charge  of  the 
New  York  branch  of  Lindsay  &  Co.,  which  will  give 
him  a  commanding  business  position.  There  are 
rumors  that  Maud,  whose  early  preference  for  him 
fitill  continues,  will,  before  very  long,  become  the 
wife  of  her  father's  young  American  representative, 
and  I  am  inclined  to  think  the  report  is  a  true 
one. 

My  readers  may  like  to  hear  how  James  Turner 
made  out  in  life  A  year  since  he  obtained  the  situa 
tion  of  teller  in  a  bank,  his  father  standing  surety 
for  him.  He  soon  developed  expensive  tastes,  and 
finally  disappeared,  carrying  away  thirty  thousand 
dollars  of  the  funds  of  the  bank.  This  loss  his 
father  has  had  to  make  good,  and,  in  consequence,  he 
has  become  a  comparatively  poor  man,  and  a  very 
sour,  morose  man  at  that.  He  was  compelled  to  give 
up  his  imposing  house,  and  he  now  lives  in  the  hum 
ble  cottage  formerly  occupied  by  Mrs.  Raymond.  So 
the  wheel  of  fortune  has  turned,  and  those  wno  were 
:>nce  ia  the  top  are  now  at  the  bottom.  But,  for 
Marry  and  his  mother,  we  hope  many  years  of  happ!« 


388  SINK  OR   SWIM. 

ness  are  in  store.  But,  if  ever  reverses  should  come, 
we  are  sure  that  Harry,  keeping  in  mind  his  old 
motto,  "  SINK  OR  SWIM,"  would  bear  up  bravely,  and 
turn  defeat  into  victory. 

The  next  volume  of  this  series  will  be 
STRONG  AND   STEADY ; 

OR, 

PADDLE  iocs.  OWN  C 


HORATIO  ALGER,  JR. 


The  enormous  sales  of  the  books  of  Horatio  Alger, 
Jr.,  show  the  greatness  of  his  popularity  among  the 
boys,  and  prove  that  he  is  one  of  their  most  favored 
writers.  I  am  told  that  more  than  half  a  million  copies 
altogether  have  been  sold,  and  that  all  the  large  circu 
lating  libraries  in  the  country  have  several  complete 
sets,  of  which  only  two  or  three  volumes  are  ever 
on  the  shelves  at  one  time.  If  this  is  true,  what  thou 
sands  and  thousands  of  boys  have  read  and  are  reading 
Mr.  Alger's  books!  His  peculiar  style  of  stories,  often 
imitated  but  never  equaled,  have  taken  a  hold  upon  the 
young  people,  and,  despite  their  similarity,  are  eagerly 
read  as  soon  as  they  appear. 

Mr.  Alger  became  famous  with  the  publication  of 
that  undying  book,  "Ragged  Dick,  or  Street  Life  in  New 
York."  It  was  his  first  book  for  young  people,  and  its 
success  was  so  great  that  he  immediately  devoted  him 
self  to  that  kind  of  writing.  It  was  a  new  and  fertile 
field  for  a  writer  then,  and  Mr.  Alger's  treatment  of  it 
at  once  caught  the  fancy  of  the  boys.  "Ragged  Dick" 
first  appeared  in  1868,  and  ever  since  then  it  has  been 
selling  steadily,  until  now  it  is  estimated  that  about 
200,000  copies  of  the  series  have  been  sold. 

— "Pleasant  Hours  for  Boys  and  Girls." 


A  writer  for  boys  should  have  an  abundant  sym 
pathy  with  them.  He  should  be  able  to  enter  into  their 
plans,  hopes,  and  aspirations.  He  should  learn  to  look 
upon  life  as  they  do.  Boys  object  to  be  written  down  to. 
A  boy's  heart  opens  to  the  man  or  writer  who  under 
stands  him. 
—From  "Writing  Stories  for  Boys,"  by  Horatio  Alger,  Jr. 


RAGGED  DICK   SERIES. 

6  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $6  00 

Ragged  Dick.  Rough  and  Ready. 

Fame  and  Fortune.  Ben  the  Luggage  Boy. 

Mark  the  Match  Boy.  Rufus  and  Rose. 

TATTERED  TOM   SERIES— First    Series. 
4  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $4.00 

Tattered  Tom.  Phil  the  Fiddler. 

Paul  the  Peddler.  Slow  and  Sure. 

TATTERED  TOM  SERIES— Second  Series. 
4  vols.  $4.00 

Julius.  Sam's  Chance. 

The  Young  Outlaw.  The  Telegraph  Boy. 

CAMPAIGN  SERIES. 

3  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $3.00 
Frank's  Campaign.                  Charlie  Codman's  Cruise. 

Paul  Prescott's  Charge. 

LUCK  AND  PLUCK  SERIES— First  Series. 

4  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $4.00 
Luck  and  Pluck.                       Strong  and  Steady. 

Sink  or  Swim.  Strive  and  Succeed. 

LUCK  AND  PLUCK  SERIES— Second  Series. 

4  vols.  $4.00 

Try  and  Trust.  Risen  from  the  Ranks. 

Bound  to  Rise.  Herbert  Carter's  Legacy. 

BRAVE  AND   BOLD  SERIES. 

4  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $4.00 

Brave  and  Bold.  Shifting  for  Himself. 

Jack's  Ward.  Wait  and  Hope. 

NEW    WORLD    SERIES. 

3  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $3.00 

Digging  for  Gold.    Facing  the  World.  In  a  New  World. 


VICTORY  SERIES. 
3  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $3.00 

Only  an  Irish  Boy.  Adrift  in  the  City. 

Victor  Vane,  or  the  Young  Secretary. 

FRANK   AND   FEARLESS   SERIES. 
3  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $3.00 

Frank  Hunter's  Peril.  Frank  and  Fearless. 

The  Young  Salesman. 

GOOD  FORTUNE  LIBRARY. 

3  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $3.00 

Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.    A  Boy's  Fortune. 
The  Young  Bank  Messenger. 

HOW  TO  RISE  LIBRARY. 

3  vols.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  $3.00 

Jed,  the  Poorhouse  Boy.        Rupert's  Ambition. 
Lester's  Luck. 


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